Tom Hanks on the red carpet at a screening for the movie Captain Phillips in Washington. Photo / AP
Tom Hanks on the red carpet at a screening for the movie Captain Phillips in Washington. Photo / AP
Tom Hanks has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
The 57-year-old actor has been battling with symptoms of the life-long condition since he was 36, but he has only just received the full diagnosis from a medical professional.
Speaking on the Late Show with David Letterman, he said: "I wentto the doctors and they said, 'You know those high blood sugar numbers you've been living with since you were 36, well you've graduated, you've got Type 2 Diabetes young man.' "
Hanks was told he should try and get back to the weight he was at high school to help control his symptoms, but the Oscar-winning star accepts he'll just have to live with the condition because he will struggle shedding the extra pounds.
He explained: "Well it's controllable and through diet. My doctor said, 'If you can weight what you weighed in high school, you'll essentially be completely healthy and not have type 2 diabetes.' And I said, 'Well I'm going to have type 2 diabetes then.' "
Hanks isn't the only celebrity to battle with the illness as Patti LaBelle, Drew Carey, Sherri Shepherd and Paula Deen have also been diagnosed with diabetes.
