November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene says nearly a million New Yorkers are living with the disease.

Additionally, 19% of New Yorkers aren't even aware that they have diabetes.

Harris Leitstein, a nurse practitioner at St. Barnabas Hospital, says being diagnosed with diabetes is different than it used to be.

"It's definitely a treatable disease…it's not a death sentence anymore," says Leitstein.

Diabetes has two types: one and two.

In type one, diabetics don't make any of their own insulin. In type two, they can make their own insulin but typically it's not as much as needed, according to Leitstein.

Leitstein added that when the disease is left untreated or mismanaged it can lead to cardiovascular disease, renal failure, amputation and blindness.

Diabetes can be diagnosed through blood sugar testing and other screenings.

Leitstein said there are warning signs that a person may have diabetes.

"They're drinking water or whatever kind of liquid and have this insatiable thirst...they might be tired and lose weight," said Leitstein.