Hip-Hop Icon Hope to Raise Diabetes Awareness via Reality TV

You'd think a guy like Doctor Dré (of Dre and Ed Love fame, not the producer who was in NWA) could find people to support his cause. Sadly, you would be wrong. In a profile in yesterday's New York Times , Dré is looking to document his journey of living with Type 2 diabetes by starring in his own reality TV show. So far, renowned photographer Bill Adler is on board with Dre's pitch. Adler's surprised how little feedback Dre's getting from the community he supported for so long. From the Times: “There are plenty of other folks who star in reality shows who are plainly narcissists, who are convinced every absurd thing out of their mouth has to be captured by a television camera. That is not Dré.” Struggling with Type 2 diabetes for years, Dré hopes to bring awareness to the disease by showing his recovery, warts and all, with the public. He is looking to track his journey to wellness with weight loss surgery, which many doctors believe can curb the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes. Dre, who suffered from blindness, an amputated toe, and ankle problems as a result of his diabetes, wants to show people that the disease can be maintained: “My stubbornness put me where I’m at. Now my energy is going to change that...We got young people, grown people, old, all having this. We can prevent this. We can cure this. I have an idea how to do it.”