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30 Famous People and Celebrities with Diabetes

Millions of people all over the world suffer from a chronic illness known as diabetes. It is characterised by high blood sugar levels brought on by the body’s inability to adequately utilise the hormone insulin, which controls blood sugar. Diabetes is still a disorder that is commonly misunderstood, and those who have it usually experience stigma and discrimination. Yet, a lot of renowned people and celebrities have openly discussed their problems with diabetes, acting as role models for others who have the disease. There are many well-known people who have managed to succeed while still living with diabetes, from athletes and singers to actors and politicians.

In this article, we will look at 30 famous celebrities who have openly discussed their experiences with diabetes in order to encourage others to take control of their health and live happy lives.

1. Halle Berry

Halle Berry by John Harrison from

At the age of 22, after going into a diabetic coma, well-known actress Halle Berry received a type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Her advocacy for diabetes awareness and control has grown since then. Berry has talked openly about the difficulties she has controlling her diabetes while working long days on the set.

She has also been upfront about how crucial consistent exercise and a balanced diet are for controlling diabetes. Berry acknowledged switching to a ketogenic diet in 2018, which entails consuming high-fat, low-carbohydrate foods. She has said that the diet has helped her control her diabetes and improved her general health. Berry has motivated other diabetics to take charge of their health and lead full lives through her advocacy and honesty about her disease.

2. Tom Hanks 

Actor and producer Tom Hanks received a type 2 diabetes diagnosis in 2013. Hanks has been candid about his struggles with the illness and has talked about how his demanding schedule and extended periods of inactivity on the set of movies may have led to his diagnosis. Also, he has discussed the significance of managing the illness early on and stressed the need for a good diet and consistent exercise to maintain blood sugar levels.

3. Bret Michaels

Bret Michaels by Senior Master Sgt from

At the age of six, reality television star and musician Bret Michaels received a type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Michaels has been upfront about his battles with the disease and has talked about how he controls his blood sugar when on the road and performing.

A supporter of diabetes education, he has also collaborated with groups to generate money for the disease’s research. Michaels has a background in music, but he has also competed on a number of reality TV programmes, such as The Celebrity Apprentice, where he discussed his diabetes and worked to spread awareness of the disease.

4. Nick Jonas

A photo of Nick Jonas by MTV International –

Nick Jonas, a musician and actor, was 13 years old when he got a type 1 diabetes diagnosis. He has been honest about his diabetes challenges ever since, and he now promotes diabetes awareness and control. On stage, Jonas has discussed the difficulties of managing diabetes and has partnered with organisations to raise money for the disease’s research.

Along with becoming a voice for the diabetic community, he also started a programme to educate people about the disease. Together with his efforts in advocacy, Jonas has continued to pursue his music career and has put out a number of CDs, including a solo effort that includes a song about having diabetes.

5. Larry King

King had type 2 diabetes and smoked heavily in the past. He underwent a quintuple bypass in 1987, and in 1999 and 2017, he was found to have prostate cancer and lung cancer, respectively. In late December 2019, he was hospitalised for COVID-19, and he passed away on January 23, 2021. His sepsis, an infection that affects the entire body, was the official cause of death, and it was brought on by renal and lung failure. King was 87.

6. Randy Jackson 

The well-known musician and music producer Randy Jackson had a type 2 diabetes diagnosis in 2003. Jackson has been transparent about his battles with the ailment and has talked about how he controls his blood sugar levels by eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise.

Together with raising money for diabetes research, he has also developed into a champion for diabetes awareness. In addition to his musical endeavours, Randy Jackson has served as a judge on a number of TV programmes, including American Idol, where he discussed his diabetes and urged viewers to take charge of their health.

7. Sonia Sotomayor 

Type 1 diabetes was found in Sonia Sotomayor, an Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States when she was only seven years old. Sotomayor has been candid about her difficulties with the ailment and has talked about how she controls her blood sugar levels by carefully monitoring her food and exercise regimen in addition to receiving insulin injections.

She has also taken on the role of an advocate for diabetes education and has partnered with charities to help generate money for diabetes research. In addition to serving on the Supreme Court, Sotomayor is the author of the children’s book “Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You,” which features a diabetic character and attempts to foster understanding and compassion for young children with chronic illnesses.

8. Jay Cutler 

During his time with the Denver Broncos in 2008, former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler got a type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Cutler has been transparent about his battles with the illness and has discussed how he controls his blood sugar levels while playing football.

Together with raising money for diabetes research, he has also developed into a champion for diabetes awareness. Along with his football career, Cutler has experience as a reality TV celebrity. He has been on series like “Laguna Beach” and “Very Cavallari,” where he has discussed his diabetes and urged viewers to take charge of their health.

9. Gary Hall Jr. 

After winning his first Olympic gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Games, former Olympian swimmer Gary Hall Jr. was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 25. Hall has been candid about his battles with the illness and has discussed how he controls his blood sugar levels throughout workouts and competitions.

Also, he has developed into a supporter of diabetes education and has collaborated with groups to generate money for diabetes research. Hall has a background in swimming, but he has also spoken at motivational events on living with diabetes and inspiring people to follow their dreams despite challenges.

10. Elliott Yamin 

Elliott Yamin by Josh Cox from

Elliott Yamin, a singer and composer, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 16. Yamin has been open about his struggles with the condition and has spoken about how he manages his blood sugar while performing and travelling.

He has become an advocate for diabetes awareness in addition to raising money for diabetes research. Yamin has a background in music, but he has also appeared as a guest on several TV programmes where he talked about his diabetes and advised others to take control of their health.

11. Sherri Shepherd

Sherri Shepherd by ABC talk show from

Sherri Shepherd, an actress and TV personality, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2007. Shepherd has been candid about her struggles with the illness and has discussed how she controls her blood sugar levels by eating a nutritious diet and doing regular exercise.

She has also taken on the role of an advocate for diabetes education and has partnered with charities to help generate money for diabetes research. In addition to her work in the entertainment industry, Shepherd has also penned a book called “Plan D: How to Lose Weight and Conquer Diabetes (Even If You Don’t Have It)” that details her experience with the disease and provides encouragement and advice to those who are dealing with it.

12. Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek by Georges Biard from

The Oscar nominee was pregnant with her daughter Valentina when she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which occurs throughout pregnancy. Hayek’s family has a history of diabetes. When they are 24-28 weeks pregnant, experts advise that all women should be tested for gestational diabetes. At the first prenatal appointment, those at risk for type 2 diabetes are examined. After birth, gestational diabetes normally goes away, but a subsequent pregnancy could bring it back. Also, it may increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.

13. Paula Deen

The renowned chef revealed that she has type 2 diabetes in January 2012. Deen, who is well-known for her buttery, sugary recipes, claimed that she was diagnosed with the illness a few years prior but held back from speaking about it publicly because she wasn’t ready. She claims that she now wants “to let the world know that [diabetes] is not a death sentence.”

14. Victor Garber

Victor Garber by Heroes & Villains from

Actor Victor Garber has been in a variety of movies and television shows over the course of his long acting career, including Titanic, Argo, Godspell, and Alias. Garber was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 12 years old and has been managing it for more than 50 years.

According to Garber his childhood neighbourhood lacked people who could relate to what it meant to have type 1 diabetes. He did, however, come to understand the value of support networks for people with chronic illnesses after spending two weeks at a diabetic camp with other kids who were managing their diabetes. The Canadian actor now participates in social media campaigns to let children with type 1 diabetes know they are not alone. 

15. Damon Dash

Damon by Timothy M. Moore from

Damon Dash made headlines as Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Kareem “Biggs” Burke’s co-founding partner and former CEO of Roc-A-Fella Records. Dash is a widely-known name in the music, fashion, and film industries, as well as in the awareness of type 1 diabetes. According to a July 2017 Essence article, the self-described “OG of diabetes” was 15 years old when he received the diagnosis after noticing weight loss, a decrease in appetite, and frequent urination.

16. Delta Burke

The Emmy-nominated actress fought weight gain in the open, which may have contributed to type 2 diabetes. She has reduced weight with the aid of medical professionals, a balanced diet, walking, and medication. She informed Diabetic Lifestyle that there are many things to be aware of. You only have to persevere through the tiresome and time-consuming searching.

17. Gabourey Sidibe

Gabourey by Greg Hernandez from

Following more than a decade of unsuccessful attempts to shed weight healthily, Oscar contender Gabourey Sidibe took control of her health when she learned she had diabetes. She admitted that she didn’t want to deal with all the complications that come with diabetes. 

The beloved Brooklyn-born actress, who rose to fame for her breakthrough performance in the 2009 movie Precious, has continued to lead a healthier lifestyle since undergoing bariatric surgery in 2016. She works with a dietitian and ups her exercise routine.

18. S. Epatha Merkerson

This Emmy-winning actress won us over with her performances as Lt. Van Buren on Law & Order and Sharon Goodwin, a hospital administrator, on Chicago Med. Merkerson is a diabetic patient and champion in her real life. She supports others in achieving their A1c targets. Her family has a history of type 2 diabetes which is when she realized that she had to change her lifestyle and take control of her health.

19. Paul Sorvino

After experiencing fatigue and thirst for several months, the Law & Order and Goodfellas actor got a type 2 diabetes diagnosis in 2006. As he nearly fainted one night during supper, his actress daughter Mira got involved to encourage a better living. Sorvino’s diabetes is now under control as a result of better eating habits, regular exercise, medication, and insulin injections.

20. Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee by Gage Skidmore from

In 2004, the then-governor of Arkansas (called “Wide-Body” by the press), who had previously expressed interest in running for president, made waves as a Fox News host. He revealed that he had been given a diabetes diagnosis after waking up one morning with a numb and tingly arm.

Soon after, the passing of his friend and former governor Frank White inspired him to start living a healthier life. Huckabee’s daily calorie intake decreased from 3,000 to 1,600. In just two years, he had finished a number of marathons, and as of right now, he claims to have completely cured all indicators of his diabetes.

21. Drew Carey

The sitcom star and game show presenter revealed that he suffers from type 2 diabetes and that he is sick of his health issues and all the additional weight he is carrying. He reduced his carbohydrate intake and started exercising regularly. He declared that he was no longer taking his diabetes medication after losing 80 pounds.

22. Billie Jean King

The legendary tennis player claims that as an athlete, she has always been conscious of her diet and exercise. But she went to a new level when she was given a type 2 diabetes diagnosis in 2007. Reducing carbs and sugars was the most difficult step, according to her. She told Ladies Home Journal, “That’s not fun for many people, but feeling wonderful undoubtedly is pleasant. When someone receives a diagnosis, she advises them to “just know that you can live a normal, great, terrific, busy life.”

23. Vanessa Williams

Vanessa williams by Christopher Peterson from

The first black lady to be named Miss America was Vanessa Williams. She later achieved popularity as a singer, actor, and novelist. She also has type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented. You may, however, take precautions to prevent type 2 diabetes and its complications. Start by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, and watching what you consume.

24. Jean Smart

With critically lauded parts in HBO’s “Watchmen,” “Mare of Easttown,” and “Hacks,” Emmy Award-winning performer Jean Smart—long adored for her breakout appearance on the 1980s TV series “Designing Women”—is busier than ever.

At the age of 13, Smart was given a type 1 diabetes diagnosis. She attributes maintaining stable blood sugar levels to exercise and stress management. Smart has worked as a diabetes advocate and volunteered for the American Diabetes Association and JDRF (previously known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

25. Patti LaBelle

LaBelle, a Grammy-winning artist, was unaware that she had type 2 diabetes until she collapsed on stage in 1994. In 2008, she admitted that she was addicted to fried chicken and spaghetti. LaBelle was familiar with the effects of diabetes because both her uncle and mother had lost their vision. She, therefore, improved her cooking methods and got in shape. The “diabetic,” as she calls herself, has published three cookbooks with dishes suitable for diabetics.

26. Dorian Gregory

Dorian Gregory, an actor and the former host of the venerable TV programme Soul Train, carries the diabetes gene in his family. Gregory, who has made appearances on TV programmes including Charmed and Baywatch Nights, lost his grandmother to type 2 diabetes and was recently informed that his aunt also had the disease. Gregory, who has worked as a spokesperson for JDRF, received a type 1 diabetes diagnosis when he was nine years old.

27. Crystal Bowersox

When Crystal Bowersox had diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a dangerous disease that can result in coma or death, she almost had to withdraw from the 2010 tournament. While she had been diagnosed with diabetes at age 6, Bowersox said in an interview with Diabetes Forecast that she had kept her disease a secret from the show’s producers and had not been routinely monitoring her blood sugar while she was on the show. After being admitted to the hospital, Idol executive producer Ken Warwick informed her that she could no longer participate in the competition.

28. David “Boomer” Wells

Wells, a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who specialised in the left side of the plate, battled weight issues for many years. In his book, he said that when he pitched a perfect game for the New York Yankees in 1998, he was still inebriated. According to him, in order to control his diabetes after receiving a type 2 diagnosis in 2007, he gave up alcohol as well as white bread, rice, pasta, and potatoes.

29. Earl “The Pearl” Monroe

Although Monroe played basketball professionally from 1967 to 1980, his diagnosis of diabetes in 1998 presented him with an even greater struggle off the court.

In 2011, Monroe, who is now in his seventies, participated in the inaugural Diabetes Restaurant Month. Restaurants in 11 cities throughout the country were encouraged to make popular menu items diabetes-friendly, and customers were challenged to order healthfully when dining out by doing things like returning the bread basket and inquiring how the dish was cooked.

30. Charlie Kimball

Charlie Kimball by Sarah Stierch from Wikimedia Commons

Type 1 diabetes was discovered in Kimball at the age of 22, forcing him to stop racing in the middle of the season. He climbed back into the driver’s seat the next year unfazed and finished on the podium in his first race after coming back. Besides that, he is the first licenced diabetic driver in IndyCar racing history (Howdy Wilcox hid the fact he was driving with diabetes in 1932 Indy 500 but was barred from competing when officials found out before the 1933 race). Kimball’s insulin maker, Novo Nordisk, started supporting his racing team full-time in 2011.

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