Award-winning actor, comedian, and producer Anthony Anderson, best known for his role as Andre “Dre” Johnson on the hit TV show, black-ish, visited Atlanta on Tuesday, Dec. 10 for an urgent mission, highlighting the need for awareness and action around Type 2 diabetes. Diagnosed with the condition at age 29, Anderson has become a vocal advocate for better understanding and management of diabetes, particularly in the Black community, which faces disproportionate risks.
Diabetes remains a significant health crisis in Georgia, where 12.1% of adults—roughly 1 million people—live with the condition. The impact on the Black community is especially severe, as systemic health disparities contribute to higher rates of Type 2 diabetes and related complications, “I feel it’s a responsibility to share my journey, to give my testimony,” Anderson told, during his visit. “I want to be able to share that story with them, to let them know that no this too touches people like me,” Anderson continued.
According to pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, adults living with Type 2 diabetes are at four times greater risk of stroke, heart attack, or cardiovascular death compared to those without diabetes.
Anderson’s advocacy is a key component of his partnership with Novo Nordisk’s “Get Real About Diabetes” campaign, which began approximately seven years ago in 2017. Christine M. Cascio, director of commercial communications spoke on the value that having Anderson brings, ”Anthony continues to play an invaluable role in our mission of encouraging adults, especially Black Americans and men, living with Type 2 diabetes to “get real’ about Type 2 diabetes and to talk to their doctors about the link between Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” Cascio told.
The initiative provides education on preventing and managing type 2 diabetes through actionable lifestyle changes such as healthier eating habits, regular exercise, and routine medical checkups.
Anderson chose Atlanta to speak on the issue as it’s known for its rich Black culture and history of activism, noting the importance of addressing systemic barriers that make it harder for Black families to access nutritious food and consistent healthcare, exacerbating the risks of Type 2 diabetes. During his visit, Anderson shared candid insights about his journey with managing diabetes. “I changed my day-to-day, more sleep, more water, less this, less that, healthier intakes, as opposed to having chips and popcorn and all these other things in my house,” Anderson said.
Highlighting small, practical steps that families can take together to support healthier habits Anderson explained, “We change the oil in our car every 3000 miles, we rotate our tires, our fluids get low, we change that. But we don’t do that for ourselves. We don’t go to the doctor to say, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’
Beyond his work with Novo Nordisk, Anderson uses his celebrity platform to break the stigma around chronic illnesses, “Being my own boss on my own television show, I could say, well, this is what we need on set, not only for me, but for the rest of the cast and the crew,” Anderson told; encouraging open discussions about health and wellness,“ it’s more than just nutrition. It’s also about exercise. It’s also about being fit,” he said. Anderson’s efforts aim to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools needed to manage their condition effectively, “A lot of people think they need to go to a gym- no, you can take a walk around your neighborhood, as opposed to taking the elevator, take the stairs in a building, sometimes that’s what I find myself doing”.
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