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Comedy icon Damon Wayans has gone from spreading laughter to spreading consciousness about diabetes risk.
The actor, finest identified for his roles in “In Residing Colour,” “Main Payne” and “My Spouse and Youngsters,” has lived a number of years together with his personal case of sort 2 diabetes, which runs in his household.
In an unique interview with Fox Information Digital, Wayans, 65, shared the second he realized the situation ought to be taken critically.
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“It was like 2017 and I simply keep in mind going to the lavatory and peeing a lot that I believed possibly my blood was draining out, too,” he described. “And it stored taking place and I am identical to – I am not even consuming that a lot water.”
Comedy icon Damon Wayans has gone from spreading laughter to spreading consciousness about diabetes threat. Wayans is pictured right here in a scene from the 1995 movie “Main Payne.” (Common Photos/Getty Pictures)
This frequent urination was adopted by ache in his toes, numbness in his toes, delirium and blurry vision.
“My sister Kim made me go to the physician as a result of I in all probability would not have gone,” Wayans mentioned.
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After the physician revealed that Wayans’ blood sugar studying was at a critically excessive 535 mg/dL, he was “scared straight” into making some “critical” life-style modifications.
“I used to drink wine, love wine. I do not drink wine [anymore],” he mentioned. “It is a a lot healthier life I am dwelling, and I am conscious of all the thrill that I’ve now that I simply took as a right again once I wasn’t caring for myself.”
Damon Wayans (proper) and his son Damon Wayans Jr. (left) seem on “The Jennifer Hudson Present” in October 2024. The actor has lived a number of years with sort 2 diabetes. (Chris Haston/WBTV/Getty Pictures)
Wayans mentioned he stays “disciplined” with a nutritious diet and works out each morning, involving a mixture of weightlifting strength training utilizing his personal physique weight, like burpees and yoga.
“I additionally put on a glucose monitor, so I do know what train does to me [and] to my blood sugar,” he mentioned. “I do know if I carry weights, I really feel higher, and in addition I am burning [calories] for the remainder of the day.”
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Whereas Wayans feels he has his routine below management, the chance of long-term diabetes issues nonetheless looms.
The entertainer not too long ago teamed up with biotech firm Genentech’s “All Eye on DME” marketing campaign, a motion to unfold consciousness of diabetes-related vision loss.
Damon Wayans performs a stand-up set at an “All Eyes on DME” consciousness occasion in New York Metropolis on April 23, 2026. (Genentech)
Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a complication of diabetes that may result in imaginative and prescient loss, based on Genentech.
Though Wayans doesn’t have DME himself, he constantly displays his personal signs, together with depth notion points, admitting he “must get [his] eyes checked.”
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“Typically God talks to you, and possibly that is one thing I wanted to listen to and be part of so as to hold myself from going blind,” he added.
What to learn about DME
The situation happens when fluid leaks from weakened or broken blood vessels (known as retinopathy), inflicting buildup within the macula, a small space in the midst of the retina that’s answerable for clear imaginative and prescient.
If left untreated, the buildup can result in partial or full imaginative and prescient loss, based on Genentech.
DME will be recognized by a watch physician by way of a visible acuity check, eye examination or optical imaging. (iStock)
DME, which might happen in each sort 1 and sort 2 diabetes patients, is the main explanation for imaginative and prescient loss in “working-age” diabetics.
The situation happens in about 750,000 diabetics within the U.S., disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic populations, analysis reveals.
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Some signs of DME embrace blurry or doubled imaginative and prescient, floaters or darkish spots, problem seeing colours or objects when there’s a glare, seeing straight traces as curved or bent, or seeing objects as a distinct measurement when one eye is closed.
The situation will be recognized by an eye doctor by way of a visible acuity check, eye examination or optical imaging.
Actor Damon Wayans attends the FOX Fall Occasion at Catch LA in West Hollywood, California, on Sept. 25, 2017. Wayans’ greatest piece of recommendation for diabetes sufferers is “don’t be afraid to see a health care provider.” (Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
Wayans’ greatest piece of recommendation for diabetes sufferers is “don’t be afraid to see a health care provider.”
“You would be stunned at how easy the remedies are, however you’ll be able to’t deal with it if you do not know what it’s [and] if you happen to by no means get recognized,” he mentioned.
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“It is necessary that we let our guard down and let our egos down and go conquer the worry, as a result of the worry is all in your head.”
Wayans – a member of the long-lasting Wayans comedy household, together with brothers Keenen Ivory Wayans, Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans, together with son Damon Wayans Jr. – mentioned he hopes that doing his half to unfold consciousness for DME will assist his household speak extra brazenly about health.
Actors Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Damon Wayans and director Keenen Ivory Wayans pose on the premiere of “White Chicks” on the Village Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on June 16, 2004. Though Wayans doesn’t have DME himself, he constantly displays his personal signs. (Kevin Winter/Getty Pictures)
“In the event that they see that I am not afraid, then possibly they’re going to be much less afraid,” he mentioned. “And if I can go residence and truly speak in-depth about remedies … particularly if I received it executed myself, I feel they’re going to be extra receptive to it.”
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Wayans acknowledged how price and entry obstacles can maintain individuals again from searching for medical help.
“Even when it’s important to spend a bit cash now to get it below management, it is value it,” he mentioned. “As a result of there’s a lot life to stay, except you do nothing.”
