CHICAGO — NBC "Chicago Med" actress S. Epatha Merkerson plays the top chief of a hospital, and in real life she’s just as concerned about people’s health.
The Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actress is on a mission to create more awareness of diabetes and help those living with it. This undertaking is personal: Merkerson was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes 13 years ago.
This message is so important the actress has teamed up with Merck and the American Diabetes Association on America’s Diabetes Challenge, an initiative to get people tested for diabetes and track control of their blood glucose levels.
She spoke at the Black Women's Expo at McCormick Place last weekend, saying she wanted to use her platform to reach as many people as possible.
“Even with the history of diabetes in my family, there was a lot I was ignorant about because we don’t necessarily have those conversations, so I think that’s why this has become so important to me,” she said.
“If there are 30 million Americans who have diabetes, it’s time we start talking, specifically when you talk about the African-American community,” said Merkerson.
Merkerson said 13 percent of African-American adults are diagnosed with diabetes, and it’s the fifth-leading cause of death in the black community.
“It’s because we’re not paying attention,” she said.
Understanding how to manage diabetes is a matter of life or death, she said, which is why she stresses the importance of meeting one’s A1C goals. This A1C blood test is first used to diagnose Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and then measure a person’s average blood glucose level over a two- to three-month period. The test lets a person get a sense of her blood glucose control.
Merkerson said she wants to see more people in control of their diabetes.
“I’m an example of someone who is constantly struggling to stay on top of my health,” she said.
“But this is a manageable disease. You can live and manage your life as a Type 2 diabetic.”
As part of the campaign, Merkerson is asking patients and caregivers to speak out and share their own stories, including challenges and successes, at AmericasDiabetesChallenge.com.
