An epidemic of type 2 diabetes continues to sweep across the United States. It has left an estimated 24 million Americans struggling with the disease, an increase of more than 3 million people since 2005.

With the epidemic comes the wave of illnesses and disabilities brought on the disease, such as heart disease and stroke, blindness, amputations, kidney disease and nervous system damage.

Some doctors are trying to reverse the tide by pressing the public to adopt healthy lifestyle changes, but much of America continues to be slow to change their ways, despite mounting evidence that such changes are very effective.

Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which either the body doesn't produce enough of the hormone insulin, or the cells "ignore" the insulin, which is needed for the body to use blood sugar for energy. Lack of exercise and being overweight are key contributors to type 2 diabetes.