+++ DIABETES CHAMPION +++
CHARLES MATTOCKS
One man’s journey to transform his life and the lives of others
By Amy Campbell, MS, RD, LDN, CDE
M
eet Charles Mattocks. He’s a chef,
an actor, an author, a filmmaker,
a dad. He’s a diabetes advocate. And he
just happens to have Type 2 diabetes.
Charles has been drawing upon his own
experience with having diabetes to help
others. You might say that he’s a man
on a mission. Get to know Charles and
how he is transforming how diabetes is
perceived and managed.How it all began
Charles was born in New York and at
a young age, was set on a career in
music (music runs in his blood—his
uncle is the late, great Bob Marley).
After performing with rapper LL Cool
J and even cutting his own single,
Charles shifted his talents to acting,
where he played the role of Ben Tyler
in the Emmy-nominated 1996 movie“The Summer of Ben Tyler.”
With a young son to support,
Charles morphed his career yet again,
this time with the focus on food. “The
Poor Chef” launched with the aim
to help people learn how to prepare
healthy, tasty meals that didn’t break
the bank. Charles was featured on the
“Today” show, “Martha Stewart,” CNN
and “Dr. Oz.” He started blogging for
34 May/June 2019