Nick Cannon
Nick Cannon has been diagnosed with a lupus nephritis. Reuters

Nick Cannon has had some pretty serious health scares this year and on Monday the America's Got Talent host opened up to Good Morning America viewers.

Cannon told GMA he has a rare form of lupus that's just attacking my kidneys.

They thought it was just kidney disease and then they were trying to figure out why my immune system was attacking my kidneys and that was sort of the root of it all, Cannon said on GMA. I scared a lot of people. I scared myself.

Cannon is suffering specifically from lupus nephritis and has had to make many lifestyle changes. He announced on Feb. 17 that he would be stepping down from hosting his morning radio show, but said he would retaim host of America's Got Talent.

I have been ordered to sleep at least six hours a night, he said. They say rest is probably the best medicine. I'm dealing with it. Of course I'm not used to the medicines, but I feel like I'm starting to figure out a lot of holistic ways, meditation and stuff to get through it.

The diet is the worst part, he continued. I can't have any fast food anymore...no Happy Meals, nothing.

Unfortunately, Cannon has suffered a few setbacks since being hospitalized initially in Aspen over the holidays last year.

My kidneys were in tip-top shape but I started to feel pain again, said Cannon. And because of my schedule and everything I had a few blood clots in my lungs which then affected my heart as well. A lot of people have passed away from that and the doctor said luckily I was in such great shape and taking care of myself because a lot of people have been taken down by it.

Cannon credited his family with helping him to get better and stay healthy.

My wife Mariah made me an egg-white sandwich before I left the house this morning, he said. Those are the things I have to be eating now, no more bacon. She takes care of me, makes sure I'm eating what I'm supposed to be.

I have to be around for my children, Cannon said, referring to 11-month-old twins Monroe and Moroccan. They're my motivation for the whole thing.