SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Two million Latino-Americans were diagnosed with diabetes in year 2000, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

That means they don't produce enough insulin -- a problem that could lead to kidney, nerve and heart damage. Doctors say it's a growing epidemic that is sending more and more Latinos to the hospital.

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As principal of James Lick High School in San Jose, Bernardo Olmos is always on the go. But this year, he's had to make some changes.

In addition to managing students and staff, he must also manage his diabetes -- a disease that has hit his family hard.

"I come from a family with a lot of diabetes -- mom, dad, aunts, uncles and a couple of brothers," Olmos said.

Studies from HHS show that Olmos is at higher risk of the disease simply because of his ethnic background.

Thirty percent of all Latino-Americans age 50 or older have diabetes. It means that the body does not produce enough insulin needed to use sugar, the basic fuel for the body's cells.

"The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Hispanics is probably two to four times greater than it is in Caucasians," said Dr. Robbins, a Kaiser Permanente endocrinologist.

While genetics certainly play a role, doctors believe feasting on fast food and shunning exercise have also put Latinos in the high-risk category.

Olmos is determined to control his diabetes without medication. He gets regular check-ups and regulates his diet.

"You have to be really cognizant of when you eat, what you eat and also exercise," Olmos said.

Confronting this disease has taught him a lesson, one he wants to share with his students.

"I think if more people found out the devastating effect diabetes has on them once they get it, they'd be more proactive about taking care of themselves," Olmos said.

While there is no known cure for diabetes, it can be managed with medication and lifestyle changes.

To reduce your risks, doctors suggest you lose 7 percent of your body weight, exercise more and eat a balanced diet.