“Parks and Recreation” Alum Retta Reveals Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis

"I never thought of diabetes until the doctor said something," the actress said

Retta revealed that she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

The former Parks and Recreation actress, 54, spoke to Today about how she didn’t suspect that she would develop the chronic condition, noting that she never even knew she had a family history.

"I never thought of diabetes until the doctor said something," she said.

Retta told the outlet that her doctor always monitored her A1C, which measures glucose levels, and although they were often elevated, she wasn’t previously in the range for type 2 diabetes.

“When I’m on the road, I just want to eat comfort food. I’m not trying to be anybody’s hero. So I know that’s what it is,” she admitted.

To combat those high levels, the actress said she would often focus on her diet and exercise regimens while she had breaks from work and was home for extended periods of time. However, she was ultimately diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in July 2023 and her doctor informed her that medication was necessary.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body can’t use insulin properly. It’s a chronic condition where an individual has persistently high blood sugar levels, which can cause various health problems like heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. Treatment for type 2 diabetes includes blood sugar monitoring, lifestyle changes with exercise and diet, and medication.

Related: 11 Celebrities Who Are Living with Diabetes

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Retta recalled the moment she learned that her doctor would be prescribing her Metformin, a medication commonly used to treat high blood sugar levels caused by type 2 diabetes.

“I was like, God damnit. I almost wanted to be like, ‘No, just let me try to get [my levels] down," she said.

In addition to the medication, Retta also had to alter her diet. Since her career typically has her on the road, the actress gets her meals from a food delivery service. After her diagnosis, she simply had her meals adjusted to her needs. The Good Girls star said she also tries to limit her carbs — mainly breads and crackers — and "lean more into cheese and nuts" when she wants a snack.

"When I’m home, I reel it in. On the weekends, I’ll go to restaurants and stuff like that. But during the week I eat relatively [well],” she boasted.

After taking Metformin and managing her diet well since her diagnosis, Retta said she hopes she can one day manage her diabetes without medication.

“That was my big thing. I was like, ‘Will I be able to get off it?' [The doctor] said not likely, but I was like, ‘I feel like I can fight this’ because my numbers weren’t so deep into the range,” she told Today, boasting that as of now, she’s been “doing well” and keeping her glucose spikes “within range.”

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