Celebrities With Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that impacts how the body processes sugar and often leads to high glucose (blood sugar) levels. It affects over 400 million people globally, including many celebrities. This article takes a closer look at some of the most famous celebrities who struggle with diabetes.
Tom Hanks
Hanks was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2013, and claims it likely came about due to a mix of poor genes and unhealthy eating habits. He calls himself “a total idiot” for eating how he did.
Matteo Chinellato, Shutterstock
Billy Porter
The actor and singer was diagnosed with diabetes back in 2007. Unfortunately, that wasn’t his only difficulty in life that year: He also filed for bankruptcy.
Anthony Anderson
Anderson was diagnosed with diabetes in 2002, and he said it changed his life. It pushed him to live healthier and make better decisions in life, which also contributed to him losing plenty of weight over the years.
Walt Disney Television, Flickr
Mark Andrews
The football player has been dealing with diabetes since he was 9 years old. However, it hasn’t stopped him from reaching his dreams, as he’s one of the best at his position in the NFL.
Salma Hayek
Hayek was diagnosed with gestational diabetes when she was pregnant with her daughter. Gestational diabetes is when diabetes is diagnosed for the first time during a pregnancy.
George Lucas
The filmmaker first became aware of his diabetes when he was diagnosed with the disease while undergoing a physical checkup after being drafted to the Vietnam war.
Joey Gannon, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Halle Berry
The actress has dealt with diabetes for decades after being diagnosed at 19. She was initially fearful that it’d cost her her life, but after sticking to a strict diet, she’s been able to control the disease.
Damon Dash
A record executive and entrepreneur, Dash was diagnosed with diabetes at 15 years old, and found it very hard to deal with initially. But over time he developed better habits and now has full control over his diabetes and is a pro at managing it.
Timothy M. Moore, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Theresa May
A former Prime Minister of the UK, May relies on multiple daily doses of insulin, but has still been able to achieve so much in her life and didn’t let it slow her down.
Larry King
While he’s since passed, TV host Larry King lived with diabetes for many years. He maintained a healthy and active lifestyle and also took prescription drugs and vitamins to help with the disease.
Lila Moss
The model has been very open about her diagnosis, and has garnered a lot of support as a result. She even had the confidence to wear her insulin pump on the runway and at several important events.
Nick Jonas
The actor and musician has been dealing with diabetes since he was 13. While he admitted he was scared when he was diagnosed, he’s gotten past that and now lives a healthier life to help manage the disease.
Jean Smart
The actress has been living with Type 1 diabetes since she was 13 years old, and quickly learned to administer her own insulin shots. She has volunteered on several different occasions to help spread awareness of the disease.
watchwithkristin, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Drew Carey
Being diagnosed with diabetes was a major wake-up call for the TV host and actor, as he used it as motivation to help him shed around 80 lbs.
James Earl Jones
The versatile actor first learned he was diabetic back in the 1990s when he was treated after falling asleep on a bench while at the gym.
Stuart Crawford, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Paula Deen
The chef was diagnosed with diabetes in 2009, which forced her to change her unhealthy eating habits. This change led to her dropping a lot of weight and living a healthier lifestyle.
Earl Monroe
A former NBA star, Earl Monroe was in his mid-50s when he was diagnosed with diabetes. He’s used his diagnosis as a teaching moment, as he looks to encourage others to talk about the disease since it can happen to anyone, even professional athletes.
The Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Sharon Stone
The actress has lived with diabetes for many years, and has been involved in fundraising projects to increase awareness about the disease. When asked how she manages her condition, she says she eats right, sleeps well, and works out.
Sherri Shepherd
The TV host has been very vocal about her life with diabetes, and preaches to others that it’s not a death sentence, and that it’s important to learn more about it. She also credits her diagnosis in 2007 with helping save her life.
Movieguide, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bret Michaels
The rockstar has been dealing with Type 1 diabetes since he was only 6 years old. While living with the disease isn’t easy, he didn’t let it stop him from living his dreams and traveling around the world to perform music.
Rjkowal, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Victor Garber
The actor was first diagnosed with the disease back in 1962 when he was only 13 years old. But instead of letting it hold him back, he’s fought through it to reach his dreams.
He reports dealing with traumatic symptoms before finally getting a diagnosis.
Randy Jackson
Best known for being a judge on American Idol, Jackson has had diabetes since 2003. He wasn't surprised with the diagnosis, as his father also had the disease.
He pledged to live a healthier life after his diagnosis, and shed a lot of weight to help better manage the disease.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0,Wikimedia Commons
Paul Sorvino
While he passed away in 2022, Sorvino was diagnosed with diabetes back in 2006. He was very upfront and public about his struggles dealing with the disease, but credited his family for helping him stay on the right path.
Billie Jean King
The tennis legend has been dealing with diabetes for many years, but the diagnosis didn’t come until long after her tennis career was over. She wasn’t shocked with the news, however, as she didn’t have the healthiest eating habits throughout her life.
David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Gabourey Sidibe
Once the actress was diagnosed with diabetes, she made the decision to have weight loss surgery not to look better, but to help her feel better and have an easier time managing the disease.
Siebbi, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lea DeLaria
The comedian and actress made some major changes to her life after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which helped her lose 50 lbs thanks to a healthier diet.
Behind The Velvet Rope TV, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Anne Rice
The author, who sadly passed away in 2021, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as an adult. After suffering through a near-death experience, she made a change by eating less, getting more protein, and cutting down her carbs.
Este Haim
The American musician has been dealing with diabetes since being diagnosed back in 2000, when she was only a young teenager. She currently wears a continuous glucose monitor, which helps her manage her diabetes well throughout her busy life and tours.
Andy Witchger, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Patti LaBelle
The singer first found out she had diabetes after being checked out by professionals after she had passed out on stage during a performance in 1995. After the diagnosis, she completely changed her diet and led a much healthier life.
John Mathew Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Chaka Khan
The singer found out about having diabetes during a bad breakup. But instead of letting it bring her down and make her even more upset, she used it to help her get past the breakup and saw it as a new beginning.
The Heart Truth, Wikimedia Commons
Jordan Hicks
The baseball player was diagnosed with diabetes at 17, but despite the diagnosis and some nasty symptoms, he still managed to reach his goals of being in the MLB.
He’s since started a brand that donates a percentage of sales to diabetes-related causes.
Johnmaxmena2, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Vanessa Williams
The singer and actress was diagnosed with diabetes as an adult, and also lost her grandma to the disease. She’s been very supportive of diabetes research.
Christopher Peterson (Sacredhands), Wikimedia Commons
Sonia Sotomayor
The Supreme Court Justice has had to deal with diabetes since she was only seven years old. She said that getting the disease helped her learn to multitask effectively, and she never let it hold her back from reaching her goals.
Jay Cutler
The former NFL quarterback has been dealing with diabetes since he was diagnosed at 24 years old. It likely came from poor eating habits and an unhealthy lifestyle, but quickly cleaned up his act by eating better and cutting out excessive carbs and sweets.
Onetwo1, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Delta Burke
After dealing with weight gain, the actress was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at the age of 41. Since then, she’s become an advocate and works hard to spread awareness about the disease.
David Wells
Former MLB pitcher David Wells was initially diagnosed with diabetes at 43 years old. Immediately after being diagnosed, he made lifestyle changes like eliminating starches, sugar, and alcohol from his diet.
S. Epatha Merkerson
The actress was diagnosed with diabetes at 50, and quickly made changes to her health instead of letting the diagnosis scare her. The disease runs in her family as both her father and grandma suffered from it.
Nacho Fernandez
The soccer star found out he was diabetic when he was only 12, and he believed his dreams of playing professionally were over.
But he defied the odds and has had a great career so far, winning many trophies throughout the years.
Fanny Schertzer, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Max Domi
The hockey player was first diagnosed with diabetes after a tournament when he was only 12 years old. He uses an insulin pump everyday, and looks to inspire other people and athletes who have the disease.
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