A decade on “American Idol” made Randy Jackson a familiar face in millions of homes across the United States, and now the musician, producer and TV personality says he wants to use his fame in the name of fighting the epidemic of type 2 diabetes.
“I have type 2 diabetes,” Jackson said in a recent phone interview. “I’ve had it for many years and I didn’t know I had it until I was diagnosed a few years ago when I was at my heaviest.”
That was back in 2003, and since then Jackson has changed everything from his diet and exercise regimen to the frequency with which he sees his doctors, all of that in order to enjoy a healthier lifestyle. It’s a message he’s now helping spread the lessons he learned through a new outreach program from the Merck pharmaceutical company called Taking Diabetes To Heart.
“It’s a diet and exercise program,” Jackson said. “We’re trying to get the word out on how to manage it. I didn’t love going to the doctor, like most people don’t. I was supposed to go every year and I only went every two years. Maybe.”
To jump start his weight loss Jackson says he had gastric bypass surgery, but changing a lifetime of eating habits was equally important, he said.
“I was doing it all wrong,” Jackson said. “I was a kid who grew up in the South, the dirty South, where eating is almost a sport. Everything has lard and butter and syrup.”
Giving up some of that was harder than others. “The fried foods, the rich foods, all the super sweets,” he said, ticking off meals he once enjoyed. “I think it was hardest giving up the desserts. Actually, not so much the desserts but the bread.”
He increased his exercising, too.
“I have an exercise thing,” Jackson said. “I play tennis four days a week. Pilates. Yoga.”
Even as busy as his schedule is, Jackson said he tries to make his healthy habits a priority.
“I think you just have to get into it,” he said. “You have to decide, ‘OK, now I have to really parcel out my time and figure out how I can get this done.”
The program website, Takingdiabetestoheart.com, offers tips and information, such as keeping close tabs on your ABCs – your A1C, or blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol.
“We put up an amazing site that has a lot of cool information,” Jackson said.
As for his other job, the one that made him famous, Jackson says he can’t, or won’t guess which of the final five on “American Idol” is going to win it all this season.
“I think this is one of the strongest years we’ve ever had, and I know people say we say that every time,” Jackson said. “But there’s so many different flavors (in the singers’ voices).”
Does he have a favorite?
“No,” Jackson replied. “I just want the best person to win now.”
714-796-7787 or plarsen@ocregister.com
