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Little Joe: 'I'm diabetic! Are you?'

Tex-Mex legend Little Joe y La Familia is a major pioneer when it comes to Tejano history. LJ has won tons of awards, made more than a dozen firsts and is the music's top icon. Our correspondent Ramon Hernandez, talks with Little Joe on becoming a major player in the diabetes prevention campaign.

When Little Joe believes in an organization, he does not hesitate to become a crusader, advocator and spokesperson for their cause.

This time

he stepped up to the plate and is going to bat for the Social and Health Research Center’s diabetes prevention programs.

In the process, he is also not afraid to disclose what other entertainers might withhold from their fans due to fear of losing their status.

“I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes,” the Tejano music mega star revealed via a telephone interview from his home in Temple, Texas.

“It didn’t shock me, but for a month or two I was embarrassed to admit it, but what the hell, this is not worse than people with worse conditions.

“For years, different doctors kept telling me that I needed to bring down my blood sugar levels because I was border line, but that was it. They never told me what I needed to do to control it.

This was a surprise to those that know the living legend who has been a vegetarian twenty years, jogged, did yoga, worked with weighs and lived an overall healthy lifestyle until he kicked back and got a little lax. As for his family, his sister Carolyn has diabetes and his brother Antonio “Top” Hernández died from the disease at 78.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. And Little Joe found out during one of his routine bi-yearly blood tests.

“After I was told I was diabetic and was scheduled for a class, I found out Type II diabetes is real prevalent with children seven, eight and nine and I got real concerned since I love children.”

Little Joe, who turned 69 on October 17, has three sons, one daughter, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.