Don Francisco, the longtime host of "Sabado Gigante," has launched Cuida Tu Don (Take Care of Your Gift), which is aimed to bring awareness to and help manage type 2 diabetes.

The Chilean star appeared on "Despierta América" to talk about the new initiative started alongside Boehringer Ingelheim.

"Boehringer Ingelheim has launched an initiative ... to incite Hispanics to prevent and protect against type 2 diabetes, to lead a different lifestyle that will keep them healthy," he said. "I've had diabetes for the last 14 years."

Don Francisco said he knew his whole life that he was going to suffer from diabetes because his maternal grandfather also had it.

According to the "Sabado Gigante" host, the Cuida Tu Don site has videos, advice and anything else one could need to know about the disease. The site is specifically geared to Hispanics because he said that diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, affects so many Latinos.

One of the site's messages is that having type 2 diabetes does not have to limit life.

"Playing guitar alongside your loved ones, planting flowers in your own garden, preparing plates that are unique and appetizing, dancing to the classics of yesteryear," the site description reads. "There are many things you like to do and which you have a natural talent for. It's for this reason that we have developed this website so that you can constantly use it as a reference and to learn more about this disease, the steps you can take to manage it better, and how to take care of the most precious gift of all: the gift of health."

The website said that Don Francisco has not let the disease ruin his life, and that the 74-year-old host has been working toward being more healthy since he was 60.

Related