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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Central Point's got its Perk ... Mosier residents angry as trains resume after derailment ... Tree die-off in local forests caused by past drought years ... Central Point's got its Perk ... Mosier residents angry as trains resume after derailment ... Tree die-off in local forests caused by past drought years ... Chicago Med's S. Epatha Merkerson Reveals Her Real-Life Health Struggle Comment By TV Guide MailTribune.com By TV Guide Posted Jun. 2, 2016 at 1:24 PM Updated Jun 2, 2016 at 4:28 PM By TV Guide Posted Jun. 2, 2016 at 1:24 PM Updated Jun 2, 2016 at 4:28 PM » Social News As hospital administrator Sharon Goodwin on NBC's Chicago Med , S. Epatha Merkerson deals with her share of fictional medical cases. But in real life, she struggles with a health issue of her own: type 2 diabetes. "I was diagnosed about 13 years ago," Merkerson tells TVGuide.com . "I have a family history of Type 2 diabetes, but I didn't recognize the symptoms. ... I found out the hard way. I was a part of a health fair and had my blood sugar tested, and it read very high that day. And then in retrospect, I understood what the symptoms were that I had." Summer TV Preview: Where we left off with your favorite shows Though she's been a diabetes patient for more than a decade, Merkerson admits that she still needs help managing the illness from time to time - something her Chicago Med colleagues are happy to help with. Sometimes too happy. "They all know that I have Type 2 diabetes. Everyone on set knows. Even the craft service people, they only put things in my camper that they know that I can eat. I asked for a soda the other day and she said 'No. I put some things in your room that I think are healthier choices," Merkerson says with a laugh. "So, I let everybody know, and now they're making me toe the line, which is really good." With Chicago Med on summer hiatus, the actress has partnered with the American Diabetes Association to promote awareness of the chronic illness. She's currently devoting her time to acting as a spokeswoman for the website America's Diabetes Challenge , which encourages type 2 diabetes patients to use a blood test known as the A1C test to manage their blood sugar, as well as to share their personal stories. "For me, the most important thing that I've learned is that it's a manageable disease, but you have to have the facts," she says. "That's why the website is so important. ... Finding out just what kinds of questions people have, finding out who's been successful and why, I think will be very helpful. S. Epatha Merkerson, Chicago Med " data-image-credit="NBC, Elizabeth Sisson/NBC" data-image-alt-text="" data-image-credit-url="" data-image-target-url="" data-image-title="S. Epatha Merkerson, Chicago Med" data-image-filename="160428-megabuzz-chicagomed-hp-lg.jpg" data-image-date-created="2016/04/28" data-image-crop="" data-image-crop-gravity="" data-image-aspect-ratio="" data-image-height="" data-image-width="" data-image-do-not-crop="" data-image-do-not-resize="" data-image-watermark="" data-lightbox="" id="shortcode0"> Other Links From TVGuide.com Chicago Med S. Epatha Merkerson By TV Guide MailTribune.com By TV Guide Posted Jun. 2, 2016 at 1:24 PM Updated Jun 2, 2016 at 4:28 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501