Interview with Chelcie Rice – Diabetic Comedian

I recently had a chance to interview Chelcie Rice, a type 1 comedian.  You may know him on Twitter as @ChelcieRice (Diabetic Comedian).  Please take a chance to read on and learn more about Chelcie and his diabetes.  If you have any additional questions that you would like to ask him, please leave a comment and I will make sure that we get an answer for you.  Here we go…

 

For those that may not know who you are, please give us a quick introduction of who you are and what you do.

Chelcie Rice, Originally from Toccoa, GA (you’ll have to Google it) T1 diabetic. Been doing stand up comedy for about 12 years now.

When were you diagnosed with diabetes?

When I was 25

What were some of your first reactions when you were diagnosed?

I honestly didn’t know anything about diabetes. I didn’t even know my grandmother was diabetic until I was diagnosed. So I can’t say I knew how to feel. I had to learn that I really needed to manage my diabetes and at that time in my life I wasn’t quite ready.

Do you still hold some of those same feelings now?

I still get angry sometimes but I think I’m a lot smarter now that I used to be. Mostly because of the complications I have to deal with.

So, you are known as the “Diabetic Comedian”, how do you incorporate diabetes into your standup?

I only use that title on Twitter. Cause if I walked into a club with that tag I would never get any work! I write jokes about my own personal experiences with my condition. Many comedians make jokes about certain diseases without really knowing anything about it. By telling more personal stories, it kinda’ helps people who know nothing about diabetes gain more knowledge even when its based in humor.

Do you feel that using diabetes humor helps you deal with the stress of living with diabetes?

For me yes. I can’t say that every diabetic should use humor but it works for me and some others. I think every diabetic should find something to help them cope whether its humor, sports whatever.

Have you ever had to deal with a low blood sugar while on stage? If so, how did you deal with it?

It has happened before and it opened my eyes to how ignorant people are to the condition. Sometimes I have to go to the bar and ask for a glass of juice and have to explain why its an emergency. Then I get that blank stare from the bartender. People just have no clue!

Other than being a funny dude and managing diabetes, what other hobbies do you have?

I’m a bit of a comic book geek. I’ve been collecting since the late 80s. Around the time of the first Batman movie. I collect books for whatever reason along with records and I play drums.

In what ways do you use your comedy to help spread diabetes awareness / advocacy?

I’m working on a project called Sugar Free Comedy. Basically its been comedy shows to raise funds for diabetes research. I recently performed in Salt Lake City for the Diabetes Mixer and I had a blast!! I love my new friends in Utah!

Where can people hear / see come of your standup / comedy online?

You can search my name on Youtube and Rooftopcomedy.com

Where can people find you?

facebook.com/comedianchelcie, twitter.com/chelcierice

Any last thoughts or comments you would like to share with the diabetes community?

There’s a lot of negativity flying around the DOC and I think we need to kinda’ check our attitudes. We need to keep educating those that don’t get it and not let our disagreements keep us from helping each other. I’m not a “warm fuzzys” kind of guy so lets just keep the support going and help each other.

Leave any questions that you may have for Chelcie in the comments or send him a quick shout on Twitter or Facebook.

Take care.