( CNN ) -- It 's been more than a year since NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal retired from the court , and he says he does n't miss it . The basketball champ has his eye on a new target : diabetes . `` It 's alarming , '' says O'Neal . `` We need to come together to try to help prevent the disease and stay healthy . '' Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes , and another 79 million Americans are considered pre-diabetic , according to the American Diabetes Association . Approximately two thirds of diabetics eventually die from heart disease or a stroke . For O'Neal , the fight against diabetes is personal . He was drawn to finding a solution after watching close family members struggle to manage the disease . He 's now focusing his energy on preventing people from developing diabetes in the first place . Waist size signals diabetes risk . `` Childhood obesity is getting worse , '' he says . `` People need to know the problem is n't going to go away unless we take control now . '' O'Neal spent years taking flak about his fluctuating weight throughout his 19-year NBA career . But the self-proclaimed `` freak of nature '' says there 's always been a method to his madness . `` [ Critics ] would automatically say , 'He 's out of shape , ' but I wanted to just relax during the summer , hang out with the family , and then work my way into basketball-playing shape , '' says O'Neal . `` I 've never been obese . Even now my body fat is only 13 % . '' Makers of diabetes drug will pay $ 90 million . Today , the 7-foot tall O'Neal says his current weight stays around 350 , `` plus 10 , '' but admits it 's not easy to stay at a healthy weight and reduce his risk of developing diabetes . O'Neal says he limits the amount of carbohydrates in his diet , eats a salad for lunch everyday and only indulges in an occasional brownie , his vice . He also clocks one hour of cardiovascular activity each day . Diabetes diagnoses increasing at alarming rate . `` It 's a different world we live in now , '' says O'Neal . `` I always urge people to eat healthy and ask them to try to help your kids get exercise . I stress the importance of keeping them in shape . It 's not about the physical appearance but for their health . '' In addition to raising awareness on how to prevent diabetes through a healthy lifestyle , O'Neal says he also wants to help diabetics better manage their disease . He recently invested in a product called glucose quick sticks , which he describes as a healthier alternative for diabetics when their blood sugar is low .
NBA star Shaquille O'Neal says his fight against diabetes is personal . O'Neal has watched close family members struggle to manage the disease . He said he wants people in sports and entertainment to be educated about it so they can help prevent its spread.