Comedy icon Damon Wayans has gone from spreading laughter to spreading awareness about diabetes risk.The actor, best known for his roles in "In Living Color," "Major Payne" and "My Wife and Kids," has lived several years with his own case of type 2 diabetes, which runs in his family.In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Wayans, 65, shared the moment he realized the condition should be taken seriously.SIMPLE LIFESTYLE CHANGES COULD SLASH HEART ATTACK RISK FOR MILLIONS, SCIENTISTS REPORT"It was like 2017 and I just remember going to the bathroom and peeing so much that I thought maybe my blood was draining out, too," he described. "And it kept happening and I'm just like – I'm not even drinking that much water."This frequent urination was followed by pain in his feet, numbness in his toes, delirium and blurry vision."My sister Kim made me go to the doctor because I probably wouldn't have gone," Wayans said.CARRIE ANN INABA SHARES HER STRUGGLE TO MANAGE HIDDEN, INVISIBLE ILLNESS: 'IT'S REAL'After the doctor revealed that Wayans' blood sugar reading was at a critically high 535 mg/dL, he was "scared straight" into making some "serious" lifestyle changes."I used to drink wine, love wine. I don't drink wine [anymore]," he said. "It's a much healthier life I'm living, and I'm aware of all the joys that I have now that I just took for granted back when I wasn't taking care of myself."Wayans said he stays "disciplined" with a healthy diet and works out every morning, involving a mix of weightlifting strength training using his own body weight, like burpees and yoga."I also wear a glucose monitor, so I know what exercise does to me [and] to my blood sugar," he said. "I know if I lift weights, I feel better, and also I'm burning [calories] for the rest of the day."GRANDFATHER'S SIMPLE CHANGES REVERSED PRE-DIABETES DIAGNOSIS THAT LEFT HIM 'PETRIFIED'While Wayans feels he has his routine under control, the risk of long-term diabetes complications still looms.The entertainer recently teamed up with biotech company Genentech’s "All Eye on DME" campaign, a movement to spread awareness of diabetes-related vision loss.Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a complication of diabetes that can lead to vision loss, according to Genentech.Although Wayans does not have DME himself, he continuously monitors his own symptoms, including depth perception issues, admitting he "needs to get [his] eyes checked."TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE… [TheTopNews] Read More.
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