Biz Markie hospitalized for diabetes complications

Biz Markie has Type 2 diabetes but his illness is said to be non-COVID related

Jul 26, 2020

Biz Markie in recording studio during #TBT Night Presented By BuzzFeed at Mastercard House on January 25, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Mastercard)

Hip-hop icon, Biz Markie, has been hospitalized in Maryland for weeks, according to multiple news reports. The rap legend, 56, has Type 2 diabetes, but the exact cause and details of his condition are unknown.

A representative for Markie said that he does not have COVID-19, The Daily Mail reported.

Biz Markie cites his weight to be the source of his Type 2 diabetes. Obesity is a major contributor to the condition and weight loss is a solution to lessen the associated impacts.

In 2014, the rapper focused on his health and lost about 141 pounds, dropping down from 385lbs to 244lbs, the Daily Mail reported. They also reported that his weight loss was caused by a good diet plan as opposed to weight loss surgery.

“I wanted to live. Since I have to be a diabetic, if I didn’t make the changes, it was going to make the diabetes worse,” Markie told ABC News at the time.

“I’m trying to get off [the diabetes medications]. The way you gotta do it is lose the weight. I’m off half my meds, I just got to get off the rest.”

About 34 million Americans have Type 2 diabetes.

“He is receiving the best care from an amazing team of medical professionals and we remain positive about the outcome,” Markie’s representative said.

For the record, data showing whether people with diabetes are more likely to get COVID-19 than the general population is insufficient, The American Diabetes Association reported.

However, it is believed the more underlying health conditions someone has, such as diabetes and/or heart disease, the more susceptible they are to COVID-19 and experiencing a more serious outcome.

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