Doctors say it's a disease that's well on its way to becoming an epidemic, diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control says 24 million people in the US are living with diabetes; another 57 million are at risk of developing the disease.

Experts say most of those cases could be avoided.

Sharon Pernell says she was completely shocked after learning she had Type 2 diabetes in May. “I really was very ignorant. I didn't know much about it at all. I didn't realize that I had several of the risk factors,” she said.

Three people in her family have the disease and since Pernell became a stay-at-home mom she exercised less and started loading up on sweets.

“I was very fatigued. I had absolutely no energy and it defied reason because I had always been active,” she said.

She now manages her diabetes thanks to education courses she receives from Doctors Hospital's Diabetes Center.

Program coordinator Cindy Jennings teaches 35 newly diagnosed patients each month and she says the students are getting younger.

“The biggest numbers we are starting to see are coming from children or adolescents developing Type 2 diabetes,” she said.

Jennings says eating smaller healthier meals more frequently, exercising and cutting out excess carbs and sweets can help prevent the disease.

For patients who already have diabetes, it can help reduce dependence on insulin or a pill to control blood sugar levels.

“I am probably one of the more fortunate ones because I don't have to do that yet. I monitor blood glucose and watch what I eat and I am hoping that will help keep it that way for a while,” she said.

Experts recommend both men and women get tested for diabetes by age 40 and even earlier if you have risk factors like family history or you don't exercise.

If you experience symptoms like frequent urination, excessive thirst or hunger, tingling or numbness in hands or feet or extreme fatigue you should also get tested.

For many patients like Pernell making simple changes is helping to ensure her quality of life.

“I have a beautiful family. I want to be around for them. I don't get to do this over with this one body. I want to take care of it and maintain it,” she said.