Diabetic Health: It Starts with Food

Guest Bio: Charles Mattocks, Chef

Charles Mattocks has seen his fair share of success from his start in music at an early age to starring in many major TV and film roles. Charles’ biggest role saw him being nominated for an EMMY for the film he played the title role in entitled The Summer of Ben Tyler with renowned actor James Woods. 

Seeking to get away from the hustle of Los Angeles to raise his son as a single father, Charles was led down the road to becoming a Celebrity Chef.  Charles is a best-selling author of now three books and became a World Diabetes Advocate following his own diagnosis of Type II diabetes in 2011. Charles is also an accomplished director and producer and his slate of films and TV programs are highly sought after.

Each career move, Charles has made has been in keeping with his desire to touch lives in a positive way. Inspired by his uncle, the late reggae legend Bob Marley, Charles dared to dream big. After giving a stunning performance in the title role of the Emmy nominated The Summer of Ben Tyler, Charles could have continued as a successful actor. Instead this single dad decided the Hollywood lifestyle was not the best for his young son and moved across the country.

His need to create meals that were tasty, nutritious, and affordable led to his career as "The Poor Chef." Multiple appearances on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox News The Talk, Martha Stewart, CNN & Dr. Oz gave him the opportunity to share what he had learned CBS TV about feeding a family for less money. He became a sought after guest on local and regional radio and television stations. Once again he achieved success! Charles just wrapped the first ever diabetes reality TV show called REVERSED.

Then came devastating news; Charles was diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. Reading all he could about the disease made him all too aware of how little he actually knew about diabetes. He was determined to save his life and knew he had to help others do the same. The Diabetic You documentary, website, and movement came out of that determination to educate and inspire people around the world. He is doing just that! From interviews in Huffington Post, Diabetes Health, Examiner, his regular blog on the Dr. Oz website, and more, the world is learning about Charles Mattocks' war against diabetes. He developed a diabetic-friendly, gluten-free treat called the "Charles Bar" that is in national distribution. Charles has also teamed up with Shire and is on a national RV testing tour he created that is going across the country to educate people about diabetes and its associated foot complications.

A tireless advocate for diabetics everywhere, Charles is determined to help stem the tide of this deadly disease. Charles’ new Children's Book is sure to educate and inspire this year as he travels around the country to promote it. Wrapping up a new show Conversations in the kitchen based in the Caribbean this lifestyle/food and travel show will penetrate a new market http://convointhekitchen.com 

The best is yet to come as Charles is traveling the world and creating programs in other islands and countries. A voice and a force for serious change, Charles will shake up the health industry!

Charles was recently a featured speaker at a prestigious TEDx conference in San Francisco. Charles is also a Blue Circle Champion for the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). He inspired thousands of the movers and shakers in diabetes across the world as a featured speaker highlighting his work during the IDF’s World Diabetes Congress held in Australia. He also works with the American Diabetes Association and just concluded writing a new cookbook released in June 2014. Charles is also a contributor to NBC/BLK where he talks candid about diabetes.

He is committed to providing free health testing along with information and products for people from Orlando to India, the Caribbean and beyond. His RV Testing Tour will and has appeared at hospitals, wound center, sporting events, malls and other venues across America and continues to educate and inspire the masses on diabetes and managing this disease. During a recent humanitarian trip to India, Charles helped test hundreds for diabetes!

Charles’s mother, Constance Marley, also the sister of the late Reggae legend Bob Marley, was diagnosed with CRPS/RSD in 2008. Charles has seen the pain and the mismanagement of the condition first hand. Charles, who also lost his father in November of 2014, was moved to get his mother the needed help, with also bringing awareness to the condition that has brought severe pain to the lives of almost two million people around the world. With this strive to achieve awareness, Charles has recently completed a documentary on this debilitating disease, entitled Trial by Fire. The film has won a total of seven award around the world and Charles won best director. Charles is production and pre-production on a few other projects. As an award winning director he is developing a show entitled The Promoters based on the lives of five major movers and shakers in the entertainment and sports filed. His company also is set to start shooting the first ever diabetes reality TV show entitled Reversed and his film based on global pain A World of Pain. The best is yet to come as this advocate of people is tirelessly fighting for others.