Almost 26 million people in the US have been diagnosed with diabetes. Occasionally, diabetics feel bogged down by this life-long disease, believing that they cannot lead productive lives. Young diabetics might think that wearing their insulin pump is “not cool.” But ignoring the symptoms of diabetes can lead to serious complications like vitamin B12 deficiency, blindness, kidney failure, stroke, coma and worse case scenario- death.
Here are some celebrities with diabetes who haven’t let diabetes get in their way:
Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas, tween pop star of the Jonas Brothers was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2005, after experience commons symptoms of diabetes like irritability, thirst and rapid weight loss. Nick Jonas never leaves the house without his insulin pump. and frequently donates his time to diabetes-related funding and research.
His message to doting tween-aged fans who’ve been diagnosed with diabetes- “Don’t let it slow you down at all. I made a promise to myself on the way to the hospital that I wouldn’t let this thing slow me down, and I’d just keep moving forward, and that’s what I did. Just keep a positive attitude and keep moving forward with it. Don’t be discouraged.”
Halle Berry
X-Men star, Halle Berry, says she has battled with type 1 diabetes since she was a child; she goes on to say that she has since weaned herself off insulin through diet and exercise, and now only has type 2 diabetes…well, we don’t know about that. Diabetes experts have responded that it is not physically possible for type 1 diabetics to survive without taking their insulin, and it would be suicide to try.
Brett Michaels
Lead singer of Poison and reality-tv star Brett Michaels has spoken openly about his type 1 diabetes in an interview with Diabetes Health magazine., saying that he has been battling with his diabetes since being diagnosed at the age of 6. Brett Michaels was hospitalized for an emergency appendectomy, which was followed up several weeks later by a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Tommy Lee
Motley Crue drummer and ex-husband of both Pamela Anderson and Heather Locklear Tommy Lee was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. His famous tattoos inspired a line of t-shirs and jeans manufactured by People’s Liberation, who also sells a line of clothing inspired by Justin Timberlake.
Elliot Yamin
This American Idol contestant placed 3rd in 2006; his 2007 album, Elliot Yamin, hit number 1 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart. Believe it or not, he had an eardrum replacement at the age of 13. Elliot Yamin currently wears an insulin pump to manage his type 1 diabetes.
Sharon Stone
Basic Instinct star Sharon Stone suffered a stroke on the set back in 2001; her doctors chalked it up to a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Sharon Stone, a fellow diabetic, often does fundraisers for the Carousel of Hope, which raises millions of dollars every year towards childhood diabetes research.
Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Williams was the first African-American to be crowned Miss America, and went on to rock the charts with songs like Save the Best for Last. Vanessa Williams is also diabetic.
Nicole Johnson
Another former Miss America, Nicole Johnson also suffers from diabetes.
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