Empire star Gabourey Sidibe is opening up about her weight loss surgery for the first time. Sidibe, 33, has a new memoir due out soon called This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare, which will chronicle her life-long struggle with her health. 

The choice to go under the knife in the name of health came after Sidibe was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

“I just didn’t want to worry,” Sidibe, said. “I truly didn’t want to worry about all the effects that go along with diabetes. I genuinely [would] worry all the time about losing my toes.”

After unsuccessfully trying to lose weight for a decade, Sibide finally opted to go the surgical route in May 2016. She is now working with a nutritionist and trainer to maintain her new figure.

“It has taken me years to realize that what I was born with is all beautiful,” she says in her upcoming book. “I did not get this surgery to be beautiful. I did it so I can walk around comfortably in heels. I want to do a cartwheel. I want not to be in pain every time I walk up a flight of stairs.”

We have always been huge supporters of Gabby and applaud how she has never let traditional Hollywood beauty standards stop her from anything, but more than anything we are thrilled that she is taking control of her health and making positive changes for her future.