Retta’s next act: Owning her glucose story with Stelo

Published: Nov. 14, 2025

3 min read

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The content in this article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs.

Everyone in the Stelo community has a unique story to tell about their glucose health journey. For Retta—actress, comedian, and chemist (it’s true!)—it’s a story of curiosity, self-discovery, and learning to live her healthiest life with type 2 diabetes. Whether she’s on set, on stage, or simply enjoying a quiet moment with her dog, Retta uses Stelo to better understand how her daily lifestyle choices affect her energy and well-being—and she’s doing it with her signature wit and warmth.

A career pivot that sparked joy

When you think of Retta, you probably picture her delivering sharp one-liners on screen or lighting up a stage with her comedic timing. But before she became a beloved actress and comedian, Retta was charting her course in chemistry.

A pre-med graduate from Duke University, Retta worked as a chemist at a pharmaceutical company before deciding to take a leap of faith. “I was a bit of a smarty pants,” she jokes, “but I chose a funnier path.” That bold decision to pursue comedy and acting was driven by a practical realization: if not now, when? “It was the perfect time to try something as ‘pie-in-the-sky’ as comedy while I didn’t have anything tying me down.”

The diabetes diagnosis that changed everything

With her career in entertainment taking off, travel, long days on set, and living out of a hotel room became her normal. Retta’s health started to take a backseat. “I was really good about managing my health at home,” she says, “but when I was staying in a hotel room and going from place to place, I wasn’t as good at taking care of myself.”

During a routine checkup, her doctor warned her that her glucose levels were consistently rising. In the summer of 2023, she was officially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

The news was a shock. “I honestly had no idea what that would mean for me at the time.”

How Stelo empowered Retta to take control of her health

For someone who describes herself as “a bit of a scaredy cat” when it comes to pills and injections, Retta was looking for a more accessible way to ease into managing diabetes. That’s when she discovered Stelo.

“What spikes my glucose might not spike yours. Stelo gives me those personalized insights right on my phone, and from there I can make adjustments,” she says.

One surprising discovery? Her morning coffee creamer was causing a glucose spike. A simple switch to half and half made a big difference.

Retta appreciates the simplicity of using the Stelo app and how it fits naturally into her daily routine.

“I am obsessed with watching the app and seeing how my glucose levels are tracking throughout the day. It’s like a blueprint to what’s going on in my body.”

Small changes, big impact

Since her diagnosis, Retta has made meaningful lifestyle changes. She has swapped sodas for sugar-free seltzers, reduced her carb intake, and added more protein and healthy snacks to her diet, including pecans, walnuts, and apples. Swimming, her favorite form of exercise, has become a key part of her routine. “Swimming lowers my glucose, so I’m getting in the pool when I can.”

Her goal for the year? To feel more confident managing glucose and diabetes while traveling.

“Stelo has been helpful as I create better habits, so I think it will help me succeed.”

Building community and raising awareness

Retta’s journey has also connected her with a broader community. “Being able to share my story with others and hearing them share theirs makes this whole experience feel a lot less isolating.”

As a spokesperson for National Glucose Awareness Week, Retta helped shine a light on the importance of glucose education. “There is a massive glucose knowledge gap,” she explains. “How can you help yourself, make changes, and improve your health if you don’t know what you’re up against?”

She teamed up with Stelo and Beyond Type 2 to share resources and simple actions people can take to own their glucose health. “Proper diabetes management starts with getting glucose aware and understanding how it works in your body.”