Orange Is the New Black star Lea DeLaria has lost a significant amount of weight after being diagnosed with diabetes.

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DeLaria, who plays Big Boo on Orange Is the New Black, appeared at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center dinner Thursday night where she spoke to People about her diagnosis.

"What you need to do is, first contract diabetes," she quipped. "Two, take the medication that they give you for diabetes. I lost 50 lbs. since September. I lost 25 lbs. since the SAG Awards [in February] - it's crazy!"

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DeLaria dropped several pounds since last fall and admitted that she began to feel "really weird" before she got her diagnosis. She said her energy levels are now back to normal.

The actress admitted that she "hates" the emphasis on beauty that society places on everyone.

"When I lecture at universities I always say, 'Look, I got laid just as much as I did when I was 50 lbs. heavier than I am right now.'" she said. "So, frankly, you're beautiful no matter what your size is. This obsession we have with thinness in our industry and in the world needs to [go away]."

The 56-year-old actress previously revealed that she is excited for the third season of Orange Is the New Black. She told Salon earlier in the year that season 3 "is so much better than anything they've put out yet," even despite the high quality of the first two seasons.

It is not known if DeLaria's Big Boo will get her own flashback episode this year, as is customary for the prison dramedy.

Orange Is the New Black season 3 is set to be released on Friday, June 12 on Netflix.

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