Freddie Jackson Diagnoses With Kidney Disease

Freddie Jackson has been diagnosed with kidney disease. According to People Magazine, he made the statement yesterday on his social media.

“After a lot of thought and reflection, I’ve come to a point where I feel I’m ready to talk about a recent chapter in my life,” Freddie Jackson, 67, said in the video. 

Freddie Jackson, who topped Billboard’s R&B singles charts in the 1980s with a slew of hits including “You Are My Lady,” “Have You Ever Loved Somebody,” and “Jam Tonight,” said that he hopes his work with the National Kidney Foundation will “help shine a light on the importance of this issue.”

“It’s important to me that I share this with you, not just as a part of my personal story, but as a way to make a positive difference,” Freddie Jackson said. He’s partnered with the National Kidney Foundation to raise awareness about kidney health and provide support. 

Freddie Jackson is not living with diabetes, but there is a strong link between mismanaged diabetes and kidney disease. 

Over time, diabetes that isn’t tightly managed can damage blood vessels in the kidneys that filter waste from the blood. This can lead to kidney damage and cause high blood pressure.

High blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can damage the blood vessels in your kidneys. When the blood vessels are damaged, they don’t work as well. 

On this Divabetic podcast, we’re talking with Nephrologist Dugan Maddux about kidney health. The music is by H.E.R. courtesy of SONY Music.  


High blood pressure can also damage your kidneys.

Keeping your blood glucose levels and blood pressure within your target range is the best prevention for kidney disease. But it sounds easier than it is. If you’re struggling to manage your diabetes and blood pressure, seek help. A team approach to managing health conditions with competent, friendly, and open-minded collaborators.

Freddie Jackson thanked his fans for their support: “As I take this step, I’m turning my personal experience into a platform for greater understanding and advocacy. With your help, we can work towards better awareness and improved outcomes for everyone with kidney disease.

Shooting Our First Full-Length Music Video

We’re shooting our first full-length video for an artist in two weeks. It’s a new storytelling challenge that I have created for myself.

To prepare for the shoot, I’ve been watching many music videos. I’m taking a page from Barbie film director Greta Gerwig’s book (she studies films for inspiration) and using iconic music videos for inspiration and a clear way to communicate ideas in lighting, setting, and tone. I’ve been sharing my mood board with videos with my collaborators to begin a dialogue for creating our masterpiece.

I’m gravitating towards videos with strong storylines and outdoor scenes since my storyboard features several outdoor scenes and has a storyline.

My storyboard has several outdoor scenes, so I’ve been watching Jill Scott’s “Long Walk” video. The neverending camera shots, the camera’s flow and movement, and how they frame Jill Scott are incredible.

Kylie Minogue’s “Come Into My World” is another wonderful video. There’s no way we are recreating any of these multiple images on our tiny budget, but I enjoy watching it. It’s an entertaining and inventive concept.

Luther Vandross’s “Take You Out” video is beautifully shot with warm tones. Director Marcus Raboy’s clear, straightforward storyline of a couple unfolds perfectly with the music tempo and lyrics. You understand the couple’s cute first and second meetings and how the relationship builds without dialogue. I also love all the B-roll shots. The director uses shots of close-ups, and reaction shots are sprinkled throughout the video to keep your eye interested.

It occurs to me that music videos are silent movies. You must tell the story through a series of scenes without words. This winter, I went to the Film Forum to see several silent films by Charlie Chaplin.

Here’s one of my favorite scenes from “The Gold Rush.” Research shows it was the longest and most expensive comedy film produced then. The film contains many of Charlie Chaplin’s most celebrated comedy sequences, including eating his boot and dancing the dinner rolls.

Greta Gerwig’s big screen makeover and the related marketing blitz are making us revisit and reevaluate Barbie’s impact on our lives, including our sex lives. After all, if Barbie and Ken are confused about what to do at sleepovers, you might be too, especially if you’re dealing with sexual health issues related to diabetes. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in nearly all countries. People with diabetes experience sexual dysfunction more often than the general public.

Podcast guests: Dr. Janis Roszler PhD, LMFT, RDN, LD/N, CDCES, FAND, and Donna Rice, MBA, BSN, RN, CDCES, FADCES, the co-authors of Divabetic’s new e-book, Sweet Romance: A Woman’s Guide to Love and Intimacy with Diabetes, available on Amazon.