Famous People with Type 1 Diabetes
With only 5-10% of diabetic patients having type 1 diabetes, this type of diabetes is less common than type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed when your pancreas fails at producing insulin, increasing the blood sugar level of that person. Type 1 diabetes, which was also known to be insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes, can be managed by a change in lifestyle, constantly managing your blood sugar and regular checkups as advised by your doctor.
At present, no one quite knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes altogether. It is a chronic medical condition; however, constant treatment can help in not letting it get too severe.
As I mentioned previously, type 1 diabetes is not usually seen among people with diabetes. In spite of this, diabetics are not in short supply worldwide. There are many celebrities with diabetes who have shared their journeys with everyone. The journey of dealing with a disease this severe is not an easy one, and we rarely get the chance to hear someone else’s story.
Nevertheless, we have these famous people with type 1 diabetes to hear from and understand the lives of a large number of people through these famous diabetics. Let us venture into their lives and get a look at their journeys through type 1 diabetes.
Nick Jonas
The singer and actor, Nick Jonas, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the young age of 13. Several years ago, upon losing 15 pounds within three weeks, he was admitted to a hospital and was made to spend the next three days on a hospital bed. At that time, type 1 diabetes was not popularly known, and Nick’s family was utterly devastated at how ill Nick had gotten.
The disease, however, did not succeed in making one of our famous diabetics in losing will and hope. Instead, Nick, on his way to the hospital, made himself commit to never letting this disease slow him down. Nick’s family, too, moved forward with a will of iron. Nick’s mother, Denise Jonas, explained how she and the entire Jonas family took it upon themselves to learn everything related to diabetes, along with the way to monitor Nick, administer his shots, test his blood sugar, and give him glucose shots whenever required.
Nick’s strong will, determination to maintain a healthy lifestyle and being available for regular checkups played a great role in him managing to live a happy and healthy life, despite the disease.
It is the motivational journey of such celebrities with diabetes that helps people gather enough courage to work towards improving their health. Nick Jonas, one of the famous people with type 1 diabetes, not only shared his journey but has been actively helping to raise awareness and help the people suffering through the same.
Sonia Sotomayor
Out of all the famous people with type 1 diabetes, Sonia Sotomayor, the Supreme Court Justice, is a huge inspiration for people all over the world suffering from type 1 diabetes.
At an age where hardly anyone talked about any kind of disease they had, a girl of age as young as 7 was diagnosed with a disease we all now know as Type 1 diabetes. After having been suffering from symptoms of type 1 diabetes for a while, her parents finally realized what had happened when she fainted in church, and they took her to the doctor.
It was a time when having any disease was seen as a sign of weakness, and Sonia’s mind as a child didn’t grasp the reality that being diagnosed with a disease and one such as a chronic one is not something to be ashamed of. She felt embarrassed about her condition and did not share this information with anyone imagining that her friends would make fun of her.
Even after several years of her being a diabetic, things did not change for her. Her insulin shots grew from one to two and later to many. She still took her meds while hiding them from others. However, one day, in a restaurant, while she was taking an insulin shot, a woman saw her doing so.
A few hours later, Sonia overheard that woman calling her a drug addict. Sonia’s initial reaction to that was being ashamed, but then she mustered up the courage and went back to the lady and told her that the shot she was giving herself is the one thing saving her life and that judgements should not be passed until and unless you know the whole story.
This was obviously one of the many things Sonia has had to suffer through her journey. The present-day Sonia is the woman who spreads awareness through her writing as well as spoken words. She is a great inspiration for all the people out there who feel ashamed of something which is not even their fault.
Sonia’s journey with type 1 diabetes hasn’t been an easy one, but it has definitely been an inspirational and motivational one.
Victor Garber
The Canadian actor, Victor Garber, claims origin in London, Ontario. The place is known to be the “birthplace of insulin”, which is ironic, considering that Victor was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes around his 12th birthday.
It was a traumatic experience for everyone in Victor’s family, especially his mother. Imagine what watching her son nearly on the cusp of death would do to a woman.
What a child wants most is to feel that he isn’t alone facing a certain challenge. Children want to feel like there are others too who belong in a very similar way. That was exactly what Victor gained from a memorable experience in the diabetes camp, Camp Banting, which was in Ottawa. He attended the camp at the age of 13 and 14 and realized that he was not alone.
Victor was determined, and being someone suffering from diabetes when there was not nearly enough of the facility, he managed to live his life without encountering any serious damage.
Learning about Victor’s diabetic journey makes you feel that you too can do this, achieve your dreams, despite being a diabetic. Nothing can stop you if you make up your mind for it.
Damon Dash
The co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records, along with Jay-Z, the music producer, belongs to the list of famous people with Type 1 Diabetes. At the adolescent age of 15, Damon was diagnosed with the disease. At the early stages of his diabetes, he had trouble managing it. By now, however, he has managed to achieve perfect control over it.
Damon has also been found calling himself an ‘OG OF DIABETES’, as he has had three decades to survive with the disease. With working on his career, growing, and becoming the person he is, it’s been a hell of a ride for Damon.
From insulin needles to AFREZZA inhalers, Dash has seen it all and has lived his life to the fullest. He didn’t let diabetes hinder his dreams, and look how far he came.
To help the other diabetics, Damon also came up with the idea of the Dash Diabetes Network.
Jean Smart
Emmy-award winning, brilliant actress, Jean Smart, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 13 years of age. The actress learned how to give herself insulin shots after her diagnosis.
However, the most daunting time period in Jean’s life was the time of her pregnancy, when the severity of the situation really got to her. Ever since then, she has been managing her blood sugar levels by regular exercising, a healthy diet, and frequent blood sugar level checks.
Jean is also the Entertainment Industry’s Diabetes Aware’s ambassador and has been very active in spreading awareness for diabetes
Bret Michaels
Bret Michaels, well known as the lead singer of the rock band Poison, was diagnosed at the age of 6, with type 1 diabetes, according to the facts he revealed.
However, it was not until 1987, when low blood sugar caused him to collapse on stage, did he go public in regards to his diabetic situation. Bret voiced the fact that his diabetic situation conditioned him to become tougher and helped him handle difficulties well and take badly thrown words in stride.
Today, Michael, like many other famous diabetics, is raising awareness and advocating for insulin availability and type 1 diabetes care.
Gary Hall Jr.
Gary is an Olympic swimmer, and he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes after suffering from constant fatigue and thirst when he consulted a doctor.
Gary was told that due to his condition, it would be impossible for him ever to be able to swim again. Gary’s determination, however, proved the doctor wrong when he finally won his first individual gold medal in a 50-meter freestyle race.
Now, though, Gary is an active member of JDRF and has been involved in efforts to cure this incurable disease, not to let anyone become a victim to this disease, the way he almost did.
Dorian Gregory
Dorian Gregory, who served as a spokesman for JDRF, was 9 years old when he found out that he had Type 1 diabetes. Diabetes has been hereditary in his family for some time now, with his grandmother and aunt being Type 2 diabetes patients.
Gregory managed to live his life with proper care, medicine, exercise and everything that was needed for him to be well, rather wonderfully. For those looking for inspiration, You don’t need to go too far.
Elliott Yamin
American Idol’s second runner up, in the fifth season, Elliott Yamin, is also known to be one of the celebrities with diabetes. Upon his mother’s recognition of his situation, based on his constant fatigue, thirst and signs of high blood sugar, Elliot was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. He was 16 at the time.
Elliott’s initial period of time immediately after his diagnosis was faced with utter denial of his bad health. Nevertheless, after a while, he became more conscious of his diabetes and never let it hinder his journey to becoming a star.
Crystal Bowersox
Crystal’s initial diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes was at the age of 6. However, when she became a contestant in American Idol, she went on to hide her condition from the producers of the show, which further led to her not paying proper attention to her health.
While being on the show, she constantly neglected to check her blood sugar level, which eventually caught up to her and almost cost her everything.
During the show, Crystal went into DKA, which is diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that is so severe that it can lead to coma or death.
After being cured, the Idol made a commitment to herself never to let her health go without a regular checkup or proper medications to avoid risking any more hazards like this.
She further went on to raise awareness for diabetes and also became a member of Beyond Type 1.
Jay Cutler
In 2008, Jay Cutler, former quarterback for the Chicago Bears, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. He is known to be very careful of his condition, which is why, without negligence, he would check his blood sugar level before, during, and after any game.
He also keeps an insulin pump with him in case he needs it.
Anne Rice
Famous vampire novelist Anne Rice was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 1998. She was diagnosed when her health condition was severe.
Anne Rice kept on writing and publishing despite her diabetes and always managed to keep her diabetes in check.
Mary Tyler Moore
After a devastating miscarriage, Mary Tyler Moore was hospitalized for treatment. She was 33 at the time, and during a routine check, her blood test revealed a blood sugar of 750, which led to insulin therapy.
Moore’s life in the later years before her death was dedicated to diabetic research, and she also happened to become the International Chairman of the JDRF.
Nicole Johnson
A well-known person with Type 1 diabetes, Nicole, is an inspiration for many. After being diagnosed with the disease in 1993, she was warned by her doctors not to take part in beauty pageants.
However, her determination made her the MISS AMERICA PAGEANT in 1999 and went on to prove her doctors wrong. She also won third place in Miss Florida USA and became Miss Virginia in 1997 and 1998, respectively.
She has been spreading awareness ever since and is also working with ADA and the JDRF.
Are You Inspired Yet?
These famous diabetics are an inspiration to the many people out there with similar health issues who find them feeling alone. The journeys of these celebrities with diabetes show that they have been in the same place you are now and have managed to survive and thrive, even stood up after a hard fall, but never lost complete hope and determination.
