Still Here: A Transparent Update on My Health, My Mind, and Why I'm Not Stopping

In nine days the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act. Tennessee eliminated its only majority-Black congressional district. Virginia's Supreme Court overturned a vote that real people cast and won. And in the middle of all of that — I went from pre-diabetic to Type 2 diabetic in two to four weeks. My A1C is at 7.1. My hands and feet have been tingling for over a week. My depression and anxiety are at an all-time high. And I am watching voting rights get stripped in real time while trying to advocate for myself with a care team I am not sure is listening. I am not stepping away. Our ancestors fought too hard for me to put this microphone down because I am going through something hard. But I owe you honesty about where I am. This episode is that honesty. Let's have this conversation.00:00 — Disclaimer01:28 — Introduction02:55 — Mission04:33 — The Political Weight: Nine days. The Supreme Court. Tennessee. Virginia. And why I have not been able to record until now.08:05 — The Personal Truth: The diagnosis, the numbers, the tingling in my hands and feet, and what it means to advocate for yourself as a Black man in a healthcare system that doesn't always listen14:59 — The Data: Black Americans are 24% more likely to have diabetes, 78% more likely to die from it, and 2-3 times more likely to have depression alongside it — this is not individual failure, this is a systemic crisis21:43 — The Agenda and Commitment: Stephen A. Smith, Tennessee, the VRA case study, Virginia — everything is coming. Here is the order and here is why I am not stopping.26:51 — Close: Still here. Take care of yourselves. The work continues.CDC Diabetes and Mental Health — cdc.gov/diabetes/living-with/mental-healthAmerican Diabetes Association — diabetes.org/health-wellness/mental-healthCleveland Clinic Type 2 Diabetes — my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21501-type-2-diabetesOffice of Minority Health — minorityhealth.hhs.govMental Health Support — 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24 hours)Darren's Substack — https://substack.com/@darrenwatts/notes?r=5ez41s&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page [email protected] the show wherever you get your podcasts.Goodpods Podcast🏆 #2 in the Top 100 Personal Journals Monthly chart🏆 #5 in the Top 100 Cult Monthly chart🏆 #7 in the Top 100 Business News Monthly chart🏆 #9 in the Top 100 Society & Culture Monthly chart🏆 #10 in the Top 100 International News Monthly chartType 2 diabetes Black Americans, diabetes and depression, diabetes and anxiety, Black men health disparities, diabetic neuropathy symptoms, voting rights depression, Black journalist health, mental health diabetes connection, RFK antidepressants, Voting Rights Act 2026, redistricting Black community, Afternoon Coffee Break Darren Watts, transparent podcast update, diabetes statistics Black community,