Today is world diabetes day and the Kern County Health Department held a press conference to announce the launch of programs aimed at providing diabetes self-management, education and support.

Officials say Kern County leads the state of California in diabetes deaths.

Local families affected by the disease gave heart wrenching testimonies about their struggles with the life threatening, life altering disease.

Officials say that maintaining a healthy lifestyle, exercising, and having regular checkups can help reduce the risk of diabetes.

You should also pay attention to warning signs that include excessive thirst, unexplained weight loss or weight gain, fatigue, headaches and vision problems. 

Click here to visit the Kern County Health Department for more information.