My name is Joanna Jackson, and I am from Albany, Georgia. I am a Community Organizer and a proud Community Health Worker with lived experience of Type 2 Diabetes.

Diabetes has deeply impacted my life and my family. I’ve seen it pass from generation to generation starting with my mother, who developed gestational diabetes while pregnant with my baby sister. When my sister was born, she had diabetes as well. My father had it, my oldest sister developed it, and eventually, so did I after having my youngest daughter.

Growing up in the South, soul food was a part of our culture and family traditions. But over time, it also became my way of coping with trauma and depression. Comfort food helped me survive emotionally, but it also contributed to my health challenges. I’ve had days where I felt so fatigued I couldn’t get out of bed, and times when I was overwhelmingly thirsty. My weight would fluctuate drastically due to complications from diabetes. Some days were okay. Other days, not so much. That’s the unpredictable reality of living with Type 2 Diabetes.

But one thing has made a consistent difference in my life: access to Medicaid.

Medicaid has been a lifeline. It helps cover my medications like Metformin and Trulicity and provides the supplies I need to manage my condition, including my glucose monitor and testing strips. Because of Medicaid, I was able to work with a nutritionist to make lifestyle changes, maintain a gym membership to stay active, and receive therapy to support my mental health. When my car was in the shop, Medicaid provided transportation so I wouldn’t miss my doctor’s appointments.

This coverage is not just about health insurance—it’s about access, dignity, and survival.

As someone living with diabetes, I know how important it is to have consistent, affordable care. That’s why I’m urging our legislators: We don’t need Medicaid cuts—we need Medicaid expansion. So many lives depend on it. We deserve access to treatment, to education, to support, and to a system that sees and serves us fully.

My story is one of resilience, but it’s also a reminder: behind every statistic is a real person, a real family, and a real fight. I am using my voice to advocate not just for myself but for every person living with diabetes who deserves the same chance at health and hope.

Together, we can build stronger, healthier communities one voice, one policy, and one life at a time.

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