Anthony Anderson Champions Diabetes Education And Fitness As He Thrives With Type 2 Diabetes

Anthony Anderson is a “proud advocate” for educating people about Type 2 diabetes, a chronic illness he’s been living with since being diagnosed in 2002.

Speaking with People about how “great” he’s been feeling, the Black-ish star explained what it takes for a Type 2 diabetes patient to live a fulfilling life while staying on top of their health.

“We have to be diligent about what we do as diabetics and do what our doctors have prescribed us to do, which means exercise, which means you can eat what you want but eat it in moderation,” he said. “And also realize that if you’re going to eat this cupcake, you’re going to spend that much more time in the gym.”

Ultimately, it comes down to discipline, the actor said. Being determined and resilient enough to stick to a fitness regimen even when you don’t want to.

“We all go through those mornings. The alarm clock hits and it’s like, ‘Ah, do I have to get up and go to the gym?’ And the answer is yes,” Anderson said. “We may dread it and the waking hours, but once we get there and get our bodies in motion and once that hour or hour and a half is up, you feel great about yourself and you feel great that you did make the choice to get up and not use an excuse to keep from going. And it always works out better for you when you do that.”

Surprisingly enough, it’s his fellow comedians who help Anderson stick to his fitness goals and stay active.

“My core group of guys are George Lopez, Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, Don Cheadle, and Chris Spencer. We have a group chat that we call ‘The Thread,’” he shares.

“For a long time we would wake up every morning and do pushups and sit-ups and challenge one to do their pushups and their sit-ups. And this is my core group that I lean on in terms of motivation and just making the right choices that we need to make as friends and family.”

He added, “I can talk to them about my journey, they can talk to me about their journeys, and we are just there to support one another and lean on one another when we need to.”