the Chedda Rap Girl Commercial

Diabetes inspires Calgary rapper to release new song, enhance sensation

December 27, 2017 • Dec 27, 2017 • 2 minute read • Join the conversation

Rapper "Chedda Cheese" whose existent proper noun is Shea Rodgers was photographed rehearsing in a portable sound booth his dad congenital for him in his southwest apartment on Wed December 27, 2017. Weber who was recently diagnosed with type one diabetes recently released a song and video well-nigh the his feel in hopes of raising awareness of diabetes. Gavin Immature/Postmedia

A Calgary rapper is raising sensation of diabetes through the power of music, i twelvemonth after his own diagnosis.

Shea Rodger, who goes by the stage name Chedda Cheese, released his song 'Diabetes for Christmas' one year after he received a telephone call in late December of 2016 informing him he had been diagnosed with Blazon 1 diabetes.

Diabetes Canada estimates between 250,000 and 300,000 Canadians are living with Type i diabetes.

"It's an autoimmune condition whereby the torso's immune system, for reasons we don't fully empathize, all suddenly decides that the cells in our body that produce insulin are like a virus and kills them," said Kimberley Hanson, director of federal affairs of Diabetes Canada, who also has Type ane diabetes.

When Rodger got the call final yr, he said it was stressful, especially because his medico told him to go to an emergency room right abroad because his blood sugar was as well loftier.

"They wanted to get information technology under control before I did whatsoever more damage to my trunk," said Rodger.

Despite his brother being diagnosed with the same blazon of diabetes at around two or three years erstwhile, Rodger's ain diagnosis still came equally a surprise.

"I started having symptoms, I had blurry vision and was feeling dehydrated, and then I started looking up those symptoms and saw that diabetes was a possibility," said Rodger.

"Only before that, it was something I never would have expected to happen."

Hanson says it was commonly thought just children could become Type 1 diabetes, and so it was previously referred to as juvenile diabetes. Merely that's changing.

"We're seeing that fifty-fifty adults are getting it due to something funny that happens to a person's allowed system," said Hanson. "There'south zero that a person can do to (cause or) forbid it, it really just is one of those very random things."

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Rodger'due south new song was as well a way for him to limited his feelings about the diagnosis.

"Once I released information technology, I realized how much of an impact it has on other people with diabetes as well," said Rodger.

"I've gotten a lot of messages from other diabetics telling me they really like the song and it's helped them out, and so I think information technology's a good way to testify support for other people in a similar state of affairs and see that I'm doing OK with diabetes and that they can be doing all right every bit well if they take intendance of themselves."

Hanson says Rodger's song is of import because it helps others get aware that someone they know or love may have it. They tin then also recognize the symptoms, which include extreme thirst, frequent urination and "fruity-smelling breath."

"(Likewise) recognize that in that location isn't one trunk type or i historic period group that is uniquely disposed to getting diabetes," said Hanson.

"I recall that it'due south slap-up that this young man has channelled his experience into his art form and I love that it's helping to raise awareness, and I wish him aught but the best."