Introducing Rock For Diabetes: A relatively new organization enlists the aid of musicians (past and present) who were diagnosed with diabetes in an effort to affect change in habits and attitudes about the disease primarily among those who are young.

The organization is known as RockForDiabetes.org, which was started by Brian Medek, who in 1983 at the age of four was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.  Today the organization works with bands like the Jonas Brothers to help spread awareness of the organization as well as the disease. This isn’t especially difficult since Nick Jonas lives with the disease and has provided solid backing for the organization’s efforts. The organization hopes that support groups can be developed along with camping programs and fundraisers.

The Jonas brothers have committed to at least one fundraiser in connection with Rock For Diabetes. The site provides band interviews for listeners, which serves as a huge draw that then enables visitors to receive the information they may need in dealing with the potential of diabetes. One comment posted prominently on the site suggests, “If you take anything anyway from this, remember that 57 million Americans can avoid getting diabetes, if they just ate right with some mild exercise.”

The Rock For Diabetes site lists multiple prominent musicians who struggle(d) with diabetes.

– Nat Adderley – Jazz Musician
– Syd Barret – Singer (Pink Floyd)
– Danny Joe Brown – Singer (Molly Hatchet)
– James Brown – ‘The Godfather of Soul’
– Johnny Cash – ‘The Man in Black’
– Mark Collie – Country Singer
– David Crosby – Singer (Crosby, Stills, and Nash)
– Miles Davis – Jazz Musician
– Johnny Darrell – Country music singer
– Phife Dawg – Rapper (A Tribe Called Quest)
– Mama Cass Elliott – Singer (Mamas and the Papas)
– Ella Fitzgerald – Singer
– Mick Fleetwood – Musician (Fleetwood Mac)
– Aretha Franklin – ‘The Queen of Soul’
– Melvin Franklin – Singer
– Jerry Garcia – Singer, Musician (Grateful Dead)
– Dizzy Gillespie – Jazz Musician
– Shirley Horn – Grammy-winning Jazz singer and pianist
– Marvin Isley – Singer (The Isley Brothers
– Mahalia Jackson – Gospel Singer
– Rick James – Singer (“Super Freak” Funk Legend)
– Waylon Jennings – Country Singer
– Herbert Kahury (“Tiny Tim”) – Singer
– B.B. King – Blues Singer and Musician
– Patty LaBelle – Soul singer
– Peggy Lee – Jazz singer, Grammy winner
– Tommy Lee – Drummer (Motley Crue)
– Curtis Mayfield – Soul singer
– Bret Michaels – Singer (Poison)
– Elvis Presley – Singer and guitarist
– Jessica Stone – Singer and Actress
– Neil Young – Singer and guitarist
– Gary Valenciano – Philipinno singer
– Luther Vandross – Singer
– Norman Whitfield – Grammy winning R&B songwriter and record producer
– Nick Jonas – Singer and Guitarist (the Jonas Brothers)
– Elliot Yamin – Singer
(Source: RockForDiabates.com)

The main thrust of this organization is to work at gaining the attention of young people when there may be time to change habits before a doctor insists a change is necessary. If young people can be reached in such a cutting edge way then it may be possible to alter the destiny of some who might potentially become diabetics.

Adding the ‘cool factor’ resource of bands, branded clothing and a completely modern presentation might serve to allow young individuals more opportunity to consider the message.