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grey’s anatomy star debbie allen speaks out on diabetes stigma and the power of early intervention
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“my dad passed away from complications of diabetes, as did most of my aunts on his side, both grandfathers on his side. it's just been around me and i've been on the lookout for it my whole life,” grey's anatomy star debbie allen says, intimately acquainted with the impact of the disease.
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debbie allen, the award-winning actor, choreographer and executive producer of grey’s anatomy—who fans of the show will know as urologist dr. catherine fox—is speaking out about a health concern that’s affected her deeply. her television character has pioneered many procedures for the seattle hospital drama series, including penile transplants and bladder reconstruction, drawing attention to challenging medical issues.
as she explains in an interview with healthing from los angeles, “we are here telling truths at a time where some people don’t want to hear it, don’t want to know it, and we’re taking on subject matters that are difficult. that’s what the arts has to do, take on those subjects that are the most widespread and weighted in society.”
this is one reason she’s lending her celebrity to talk about diabetes, a disorder where the body has trouble with insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. left untreated, diabetes can lead to long-term complications or even death. in people with type 2 diabetes, these complications can include heart disease, kidney damage, nerve pain or vision loss. in type 1 diabetes, the body can’t produce insulin, so medication is essential to prevent high or low blood sugar that causes organ damage over time, or in severe cases, leads to life-threatening diabetic coma.
prediabetes and working to stop the progression
“my dad passed away from complications of diabetes, as did most of my aunts on his side, both grandfathers on his side. it’s just been around me and i’ve been on the lookout for it my whole life,” allen says, intimately acquainted with the impact of the disease. “i became pre-diabetic during covid and i took eight months to turn that back around with my healthcare provider, which is something people need to do. they need to go to their doctor.”
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like allen, if you’re diagnosed early with type 2 diabetes, you can work to maintain healthy blood sugar levels with strategies like limiting carbohydrates and getting enough exercise. on that note, allen leads virtual dance classes to people around the globe from her non-profit debbie allen dance academy in los angeles, coming up to 25 years of opening its doors to youth to experience the arts. “it gives my life purpose,” she says of the rewards of the venture that she and her husband, former nba all-star norman nixon, founded in 2001.
speaking up about diabetes is also a huge feel-good because she can use her fame to engage people to pay attention to their health and be sensitive to the health of others.
people living with diabetes are two to three times more likely to have depression
when it comes to diabetes, many people may not even know they’re at risk because they haven’t discussed it with a doctor or had blood work done to check for blood sugar control. canadian statistics reveal that in 2024, four million people, or 10 per cent of the population, have been diagnosed with diabetes. six million people are at high risk of developing diabetes. according to diabetes canada, life expectancy for people living with diabetes may be shortened by five to 10 years and those affected are two to three times more likely to live with depression.
part of that depression stems from the bias people with diabetes often experience. that means comments, well-intentioned or not, that people with diabetes hear: “i thought diabetics couldn’t eat doughnuts” or anything with sugar. “should you really be eating that?” “have you tried to lose weight to help with diabetes?” allen points to a new campaign above the bias released by abbott which includes survey results and a short film about how everyday comments like these can be hurtful for people. there are misconceptions that need to be addressed that imply blame, like people with diabetes brought it on themselves, they are lazy and don’t exercise, and they overeat when it comes to junk food. the outcome can be people skipping important medical appointments and feeling shame.
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allen talks about how diabetes is an equal opportunity. anyone can develop the disease, regardless of where you live, your ethnicity or your religious background. “it’s in my family, but sometimes it comes in a family where it didn’t exist before.” she explains that it is not always a person’s weight that is a contributor because there are very slim people diagnosed with diabetes everyday. much like obesity, diabetes is a metabolic disorder that is complex, resulting from a number of factors unique to the individual. as allen says, “you can’t judge a book by its cover.”
diabetes bias leads to comments that are hurtful and harmful
data from a 2024 survey commissioned by abbott of more than 2,600 people living with diabetes across eight countries, including canada, indicates they may not be getting the care they need because of shame and stigma around their condition. the survey found that one in three people with diabetes say they have skipped or missed a doctor’s appointment because of shame or stigma. almost three-quarters of respondents say their diabetes has had some negative impact on their mental health.
“people living with diabetes don’t want to share that information because of the bias that exists, and it’s true, people say things and it’s very hurtful and harmful,” allen says, recalling an incident at a family birthday party.
“my aunt said to a family member that has been living with diabetes, ‘girl, you better put down that cake. we don’t want to end up in the hospital with you in a coma.’ that made people laugh. but it wasn’t funny,” she says, emphasizing that bias is “a real thing and what’s wonderful about what abbott has created is the opportunity for us to really have a conversation about it, because it’s not been discussed.”
she’s talked publicly about diabetes before, encouraging people to seek medical help so they can see what their options are and what they can do to manage their diabetes and live healthier lives.
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“but we’ve never talked about the bias and this is a very needed conversation. especially in this climate right now, where people just say what they want to say. when are we going to be sensitive to each other?”
people say things that stick with you for a long time, something she experienced as a young black woman when she was 16. “i was auditioning for school and i was the hope of my community, auditioning to demonstrate the combinations. and then when it was over and i was so sure that i was going to be accepted, the man told me to my face, ‘you should go into something else. your body is not right for dance,’” she pauses, remembering the pain of that moment.
“that was pretty hard. then he was wrong, boy was he wrong.”
among numerous accolades for her work, she holds five honorary doctorate degrees, is a kennedy center honoree, and has a star on the hollywood walk of fame.
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