You know her from her thought-provoking roundtable discussions on The View and her laugh-out-loud inducing commentary. But did you also know that Emmy winner, stand-up comedian, and actress Sherri Shepherd has type 2 diabetes?

So often, those of us with diabetes think we are living alone with our diagnosis. But in reality, we are very much part of a loud and proud tribe.

Sherri Shepherd is part of that tribe.

D Day for Sherri

Sherri was diagnosed first with prediabetes. Admittedly, though, hearing the words prediabetes didn’t change much:

“I get diagnosed with pre-diabetes, which untreated, always leads to full-blown diabetes? Oh, that’s other pre-diabetics, not me. Look, I’m Sherri. Bad things don’t happen to me, okay?”

She had already lost her mother to diabetes-related complications and she grew up around family members who lost legs from “the sugar,” what she talks about in her book, Permission Slips, as her family’s nickname for diabetes.

So Sherri didn’t think much of a prediabetes diagnosis. It wasn’t full-blown diabetes, so there was no need to change.

Then, in 2007, D Day came for Sherri. It’s what Sherri calls the day she was officially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and it came just days before she started her stint as cohost on The View.

“Diabetes Saved My Life”

It was the official, full-blown diabetes diagnosis that changed everything, says Sherri.

Prior to that, she thought of prediabetes -- and diabetes -- as a way of life; everyone in her family had it, there was simply no way around it. But once officially diagnosed, diabetes gave Sherri the impetus she needed to make a change:

"If I didn't have diabetes, I would probably be at the International House of Pancakes eating a stack of pancakes with butter and syrup," says Shepherd, 46. "I would probably be 250 pounds. I would not be going to the doctor. I probably wouldn't be married to my husband, Lamar Sally. I wouldn't be healthy for my son, Jeffrey."

Since her D Day, Sherri Shepherd has made drastic changes.

In her latest Instagram post about her diabetes, Sherri revealed that she had gotten her A1C down to pre-diabetic levels:

“My A1C is 5.4%. The doctor excitedly said ‘OHMYGOD, what did you do? You’re not even prediabetic!’”

And it’s not just her A1C levels that are in perfect condition. Sherri’s blood pressure is stable and she’s made huge strides on her weight loss journey. Her secret?

No sugar and keto.

View this post on Instagram

If I am going to stay strong against #BigMac cravings, I gotta start eating healthy options... sautéed #brussellsprouts w #garlic , roasted #butternutsquash on the #grill , sautéed #zucchinninoodles w #chickenapplesausage and made #chicken #wings for Jeffrey in the #airfryer ... much better than a #2 supersize combo😏 #sherrishepherd #workingmom #andshecookstoo

A post shared by Sherri (@sherrieshepherd) on Feb 15, 2020 at 5:24pm PST

Shepherd has been incredibly outspoken about her latest lifestyle change and for very good reason. She hopes to spread the word and let other people with diabetes know that they can have the same results. She regularly posts about her exercise and food journey, oftentimes saying exactly what we all feel!

“Thank you to every single one of you who encouraged me when I wanted to eat TWO #bigmac & a large #frenchfries ... your posts got me through it - I went home blended one of @thereallailaali #youplenish protein powder w a #banana #grapes & #blueberries ... I sat and prayed and asked God to help me w my addictive eating. Went to the gym this morning and I feel so good today - much stronger than yesterday. Energetic and focused vs numb & feeling guilty. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love & encouragement - it got me over the hump!!!”

Just like us, she is out there, every single day, fighting that fight -- and winning. Cheers to this fierce, fabulous diabadass female.