Angela Bassett Heads the Upcoming “Know Diabetes by Heart”

Golden Globe®-winning and  Academy Award®-nominated actress Angela Bassett will perform an original monologue based on her family’s personal experience with type 2 diabetes and heart disease during a free, virtual  show she’s also hosting Harlem’s World-Famous Apollo Theater on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. 

The event is produced and presented by Know Diabetes by Heart™, a joint initiative of the  American Heart Association® and American Diabetes Association® that helps people with  diabetes, their loved ones and the health professionals who care for them manage the link  between diabetes and cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks, strokes and heart failure. 

Know Diabetes by Heart at the Theater from the Apollo begins at 8 p.m. EDT (7 p.m. CDT).  Advance registration is not required. To save the date, download the discussion guide and  watch the show on May 25, go to DiabetesTheater.org. 

Bassett, who serves as the celebrity ambassador for Know Diabetes by Heart in honor of her  late mother, will host the first-ever Know Diabetes by Heart at the Theater event, which also  includes monologues inspired by the turning points of Sarah Bryant and Anthony Wilson, two  Know Diabetes by Heart national ambassadors now thriving with type 2 diabetes. 

In addition to three moving theater performances, the event will feature entertainment by  Howard University alumna Sage Chase, a jazz ensemble, dance and conversations around  overcoming diabetes, heart disease and stroke in our families and community. 

People living with type 2 diabetes are two times more likely to develop and die from  cardiovascular disease than people who do not have diabetes. When compared to non-Hispanic  white people, non-Hispanic Black people are three times as likely to end up in the hospital for  uncontrolled diabetes.

“We know our Black brothers and sisters too often face a higher burden of illness. But we also  know education, advocacy and structural change can make a difference. Whether you live with  diabetes, love someone with diabetes or have lost someone to diabetes, heart disease or  stroke, you’ll relate to something in this show,” Bassett said. “My hope is that everyone  watching will have a good time and also decide to harness the individual power they have to  improve their health and live these beautiful lives we have to the fullest.” 

Know Diabetes by Heart is made possible with support from founding sponsors, the Boehringer  Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company Diabetes Alliance, and Novo Nordisk, and national  sponsors, Sanofi, AstraZeneca and Bayer. Learn more at KnowDiabetesbyHeart.org.