Music Duo The War and Treaty on Managing His Type 2 Diabetes—and Getting Healthier Together

As vocalists, performers, and now health advocates, Michael and Tanya Trotter of the band The War and Treaty are no strangers to using their voices powerfully. Fresh off their Grammy nominations and in the midst of a national tour, the couple is speaking up about something deeply personal: Michael’s experience living with type 2 diabetes.

Since starting on Ozempic—alongside key lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise—Michael has significantly lowered his A1C and found a new sense of energy both on and off stage. The Trotters recently opened up to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest about their partnership with Novo Nordisk to talk about Ozempic, as well as how diabetes has shaped their journey as artists and partners, the stigma surrounding treatment in the Black community, and the rituals that keep them grounded on the road.

Find out how your favorite stars stay well when you subscribe to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter

MICHAEL AND TANYA, WHO PERFORM AS "THE WAR AND TREATY"

The Healthy by Reader’s Digest: Michael, you’ve been open about living with type 2 diabetes. What was the moment that made you take a more active role in managing your health?

Michael Trotter: I just really wanted to be healthier and be around next to Tanya as long as I could—and our children. When I heard that Ozempic was an option for me, and that it could be a great partner in managing diabetes, I thought, Well, let’s give it a try.

For years I had been operating at a very poor level of diabetes management. My A1C stayed in double digits. My blood sugar [levels] weren’t great at all, and I just was quitting. Once I got on Ozempic, everything changed. I started seeing my numbers lower—which encouraged me to think, Well, maybe I need to do something else. I changed my diet. I cut back on a bunch of the trash, garbage foods, and started taking my choices more seriously. Then I gained more energy. I was able to run around on stage, go in the crowd—and we do that every night. I’m working out that way for about 90 minutes a night. I feel great at the end.

The Healthy: It’s so demanding as an artist to be on stage every night, giving it your all! Diabetes disproportionately affects the Black community. Tell us how you both approach using your platform for causes like this.

Michael Trotter: I’m an open book. I love to share things that I feel can heal, help, encourage, and empower. It’s just sharing the journey, talking about the highs and the lows. And some of the lows is that I was depressed. I didn’t think this was going to work. I didn’t think I had a fighting chance at all because of this disease. I’ve seen it take out so many of my family. In fact, everyone on my father’s side. And now here I am fighting back. And I want to say to my community—because I hear this a lot: “He’s losing weight, he must be on Ozempic.” It’s not a weight-loss drug; it’s a medication to lower A1C. What you have to do is change your diet and add exercise.

The Healthy: That’s so powerful. Tanya, what has it been like supporting Michael through this health journey? How has it affected your own wellness, as well as you two as a couple?

Tanya Trotter: Seeing him happy and having all that energy has been amazing. Once he started Ozempic and saw the results—you could see he’d been a little depressed before—but then his self-esteem grew, and he got excited. In this country, the stigma of being overweight is so in your face—people are mean on social media—so for him to talk about it and encourage other people who are struggling with diabetes, it’s powerful. It impacts my own personal journey, too. If I do something unhealthy, it affects him. So I’m just encouraged by him. I’m proud of him.

MICHAEL AND TANYA, WHO PERFORM AS "THE WAR AND TREATY"

The Healthy: Ozempic is talked about so much in pop culture. How has your personal experience been compared to how it’s portrayed?

Michael Trotter: Pop culture is just that—pop culture. People make fun of everything. I’m used to that, being a war veteran. I’ve seen folks make fun of shell shock. I handle this the same way—I close my ears to it and tell my story. When I first started Ozempic, I was part of that crew that thought it was a miracle drug. I thought I’d just lose weight. I was taking it for the wrong reasons. But I didn’t change my diet. I wasn’t exercising. And I started experiencing side effects—like unpredictable bathroom moments. I’d be like, “Whoa, I gotta go.” But I realized—this is what happens when you eat trash. Once I changed my diet, those issues went away. It’s given me energy. I get to play ball with my son again. I’ve lost some weight. I’m happy about that. But the biggest thing is [that] I don’t feel defeated in my diabetes journey.

The Healthy: Have you noticed any changes in your relationship with food since starting Ozempic?

Michael Trotter: My cravings are different. I used to crave cakes and pies. Now, I’ll buy it out of habit and won’t eat it. I waste money throwing it away. I started craving green peppers and fresh broccoli. I’ll take a little bit of ranch, but I crave healthier things. They taste different. My palate is being purged.

The Healthy: How do you both stay grounded and healthy while touring, when nothing is routine?

Tanya Trotter: For me, it’s prioritizing and planning—and that starts at home. Whether it’s organizing clothes in a storage unit or planning food. Like today, we have a show in Chicago and our daughter went and stocked the bus with healthy snacks for the next 48 hours. My Achilles heel used to be Twizzlers. Now we keep better things on the bus. Michael loves his veggie trays. I’m not quite there—but he’s getting me there.

The Healthy: What’s one self-care ritual you refuse to skip?

Tanya Trotter: I have a new one my daughter hooked me up with: toner! After the show, washing my face and putting on toner. I can’t live without it.

The Healthy: Gen Z knows their skincare routines.

Michael Trotter: For me it’s a foot massage. Then I go to bed.

The Healthy: You two just released your album Plus One to huge acclaim. What does this next chapter look like for you?

Michael Trotter: It definitely feels healthier. We’re working on new material, a new show…

Tanya Trotter: And a book!

Michael Trotter: And a movie. Tanya’s role has been cast. We can’t say who yet—but it’s happening!

For more wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:

• Eric Stonestreet Is Ready to Talk About His Diabetes Diagnosis
• Rob Lowe’s Secrets for Staying Fit, Full, and Forever Young at 61
• Morgan Freeman Speaks Up About Heart Health and Aging Well
• Busy Philipps on the Diagnosis That’s “So Intrinsically a Part of Who I Am”