Tom Hanks reveals he has type 2 diabetes

Ann Oldenburg | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Tom Hanks announces he has diabetes Actor Tom Hanks announced on Late Show with David Letterman that he has type 2 diabetes. Hanks said he has been struggling with high blood sugar for years. (Oct. 9)

Tom Hanks has been out and about doing interviews to promote his new movie, Captain Phillips.

He has mentioned that he recently lost weight. But it wasn't until Monday night's Late Show with David Letterman that Hanks, 57, revealed he has been battling high blood sugar numbers since he was 36 years old.

And now, he said, his doctor told him, "You've graduated. You've got type 2 diabetes, young man."

He quickly added, "It's controllable. ... Something's going to kill us all, Dave."

The doc went on to tell the actor that if he could "weigh as much as you weighed in high school, you will essentially be completely healthy and will not have type 2 diabetes," Hanks said. "And I said to her, 'Well, I'm gonna have type 2 diabetes.' "

While Hanks is thinner, he said there's no way he could get back down to his high school weight. He joked that he was "96 pounds" then. "I was a very skinny boy."

Hanks joins stars including Patti LaBelle, Drew Carey, Sherri Shepherd and Paula Deen, all of whom have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

The star tweeted a confirmation of the admission today, writing: "Yep, I have #2 diabetes. Type 1 is VERY SERIOUS! Type 2 I can manage with good habits. I shall! Hanx"