"MOMMY, I THINK I HAVE DIABETES." a conversation with author Jamala Lesane

"MOMMY, I THINK I HAVE DIABETES." a conversation with author Jamala Lesane

Author: Leon Rock, M. Ed. November 30, 2025 Duration: 58:24

"Mommy, I Think I Have Diabetes": The Power of Listening to Black Youth.

Family, pull up a chair to the circle! This week, we are reclaiming our bloodline.

We are honored to sit down with Jamala Lesane, a woman walking in a powerful legacy (cousin to the legendary Tupac Shakur). But today, she’s fighting a different kind of war—the battle for our health.

In this powerful episode, we discuss: The moment her young daughter diagnosed herself with diabetes. How they decolonized their diet without losing the Soul. Breaking generational curses and protecting our Black youth.

This isn’t just a medical conversation; it’s a liberation conversation. It’s time to heal the village.


Hosted by educator Leon Rock, M. Ed., African American Diabetes Podcast Show creates a vital space for conversation and practical guidance centered on the Black experience with diabetes. This isn't just a health podcast; it's a resource built on understanding the unique cultural, social, and systemic factors at play. Each episode blends straightforward advice with deeper commentary, drawing on the knowledge of Black healthcare professionals and researchers who provide not only medical insights but also crucial context on navigating the healthcare landscape. You'll hear real stories of resilience and management that resonate on a personal level. Grounded in a Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation framework, the discussions go beyond diet and exercise to address the whole journey. The tone is supportive and direct, offering actionable steps while fostering a sense of community. Whether the topic is fitness, nutrition, or the latest relevant news, Leon Rock facilitates conversations that empower informed choices and holistic well-being. Tuning in means accessing a dedicated blend of expert insight and shared experience, all tailored to meet listeners where they are.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 36

African American Diabetes Podcast Show
Podcast Episodes
It’s All Connected: Breaking Down Cardiometabolic Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:25
It’s time we stop playing "Whack-A-Mole" with our health.In this special African American Diabetes Podcast, I’m breaking down the clunky medical term Cardiometabolic Health in a way that actually makes sense for us.We’ve…
Bio-Hacking and the Tech Divide - The New Civil Rights Frontier [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:18
Is medical technology the new battleground for Civil Rights?Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps are the gold standard of care, yet Black patients are significantly less likely to be prescribed them, rega…
Sweet Betrayal: The Business of Diabetes and Black American Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:34
In this electrifying episode, we stop "managing" a crisis and start investigating a crime. We are stripping away the polite clinical language to expose the Diabetes Industrial Complex, a system that profits more from our…
Is Your Doctor Working for You or the System? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:08
Are you a patient or just a statistic?In this explosive solo episode, host Leon Rock pulls back the curtain on the "Standard Care Trap" that is failing Black Americans living with diabetes. Drawing from his own harrowing…
Saving the Black Race from Extinction - Negro Health Week 1915-1951 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:35
Join host Leon Rock for a powerful, short yet deep dive into the revolutionary legacy of Booker T. Washington’s National Negro Health Week (NNHW). We explore how a seven-day "health revival" fueled by the Black Church be…
They told you the kitchen was the problem. They lied. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:13
In this week’s episode of the African American Diabetes Podcast, we’re pulling back the curtain on the Kitchen Table Conspiracy. We aren’t just talking about A1Cs and finger pricks—we’re talking about how a system of Foo…