CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — With 29 million people in the U.S. who have diabetes, and another staggering 9.7 million more undiagnosed, according to the American Heart Association, a local doctor says it is ‘a holocaust’ that puts everyone at risk.

“Everyone’s at risk now,” said Dr. James La Rocque with the Endocrinology and Diabetes Center in Chesapeake. “It’s a holocaust now affecting the country.”

La Rocque said Asians may a higher probability due to heavy rice consumption, but it’s increasing among everyone due to unhealthy eating and a lack of exercise, among other factors. During National Diabetes Month, it’s a good time to be aware about a disease that affects so many lives.

“The American diet, the way we eat — we eat far too much carbohydrates and processed food, to put it bluntly, and exercise too little,” La Rocque said. “But exercise doesn’t solve the problem if you’re eating incorrectly.

The most classic sign to know you’re diabetic, according to La Rocque, is excessive urination, which signals high blood sugar.

“Above 125 milligrams per deciliter is considered diabetic and 101 is pre-diabetic, if you will, which is not a term I like to use,” he said. “Below 100 is what you might say is safe, and you don’t have it if you’re persistently below 100.”

For those who are diabetic, healthy eating habits are imperative, but there’s still controversy on whether a plant-based diet is more effective than one with meat.

La Rocque doesn’t recommend plant-based diets to people, although he believes leafy green regimes have their benefits. What he does suggest are ketogenic and Atkins diets. He also highly recommends periods of fasting, with around 12 hours to reset the body from the feeding cycle.

La Rocque said diabetes can be reversed with proper diet and exercise if it’s Type 2 diabetes, but Type 1 is insulin-dependent, which is needed to survive.

The International Diabetes Federation projects, 1-in-8 adults will become diabetic globally by 2045.

Take a free test to find out if you’re prediabetic here.