When the Beat Slowed Down: My Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis

What’s up, family — it’s me again The Hip Pop, and this one’s from the heart. This post isn’t about sneakers or South Bay community events. It’s about my life — the kind that forces you to pause, reflect, and remix your rhythm.

About a week ago, I got hit with a Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis. And let me tell you — that news landed harder than a snare on a Dre track. I sat at home, reading the lab results with the Mrs., heart pounding, trying to process how I — the same dude who keeps the energy high, stays moving, and pushes through pain — got here.

The Weight of the Grind

See, I’ve been through my share of challenges. The kind that test not just your body but your spirit. I’ve battled through major sciatica issues — pain so sharp it felt like it was trying to rewrite my DNA. There were mornings I could barely move but still showed up, still led my team, still played with my kids, still smiled for the community. Because that’s what we do.

Being a man of color in my mid-40s, we’re taught to push through. To be the rock. To hold it down no matter what. But somewhere in between the hustle, the responsibilities, and the pressure to always be “good,” I stopped checking in on me.

Facing It Head-On

When that diabetes diagnosis came, I had two choices: deny it and keep running myself into the ground — or face it like every obstacle before — with honesty, strength, and heart.

So I’m doing what I’ve always done: I’m fighting back. But this time, it’s not about toughness — it’s about balance. About eating better, moving smarter, listening to my body, and protecting my peace.

New Rhythm, Same Soul

I’ve realized that health isn’t just physical — it’s mental, emotional, spiritual. It’s how I show up for my wife, for my kids, for the family, and for every person who looks at me and thinks, “If he can keep going, so can I.”

This isn’t a setback — it’s a remix. A chance to rebuild the track with cleaner samples, better bass, and more intention.

For My Brothers Out There

To my brothers — especially those of us in our 40s, juggling family, work, community — don’t ignore the signs. Go get checked. Drink your water. Move your body. Rest your mind. It’s not weakness to care for yourself — it’s strength.

We’ve already beat the odds in so many ways. This is just another verse in the story.

The Bigger Picture

I share this not for sympathy, but for solidarity. Life will throw pain, pressure, and plot twists at you — but that doesn’t mean the song stops. You adjust the tempo, change the beat, and keep it moving.

Here’s to new rhythms, healthier habits, and living long enough to see the next generation thrive.

Stay real. Stay grounded. Stay healthy.

✌🏽💚

— The Hip Pop