A Few Famous People with Diabetes

There are many famous people who are leading successful lives with type 1 and 2 diabetes. These inspirational people include actresses, writers, politicians, business moguls and athletes. Discover a few famous people with diabetes who won’t let anything hold them back from achieving their dreams.

• Halle Berry was originally diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1988, when she fell into a diabetic coma while working on the set of a TV show. Since then, the popular actress has discovered she actually has diabetes type 2. The Oscar winner talks about her condition during interviews and is the face of Diabetes Aware Education Program. Ms. Berry encourages people to seek help to learn how to understand diabetes and live with it.
• At age 33, actress, director and writer Mary Tyler Moore was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. In 2009, she released a book entitled, “Growing up Again” about her life with diabetes. Moore also became the international chairperson of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
• Actress and clothing designer, Delta Burke, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1997. She was scared in the beginning, but learned to get control through eating smaller portions, adding more protein to her diet, exercising regularly and testing her blood sugar. Burke became a paid spokesperson for Amyln Pharmaceuticals. She takes her shots and tests her blood sugar with a glucose meter publicly to show others it is a normal part of diabetes self-management.
• Drew Carey is a renowned actor, comic and the current host of the famous TV game show, “The Price is Right”. Recently he lost 80 pounds, which attracted quite a bit of public attention. After following a strict exercise and diet routine, he claimed he was cured of type diabetes type 2. While the medical community indicates there is no cure for diabetes, it is likely his condition is in remission, thanks to dedicated attention to his diet and exercise routine that eliminated his need to take medication.
• Gov. Mike Huckabee lost over 100 pounds in less than a year and reversed his type 2 diabetes symptoms. The current Republican presidential primary candidate, who is one of the famous faces of Fox News, wrote a book about obesity-related diseases entitled, “Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork”.
• In 1994, singer and cookbook author Patti La Belle passed out on stage and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The disease runs in her family and she lost an uncle who had diabetes. Her aunt and grandmother also had diabetes. She learned to adapt her favorite decadent dishes into diabetes-friendly meals, works out with a trainer and takes walks. La Belle is also a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association.
• Tennis star Billie Jean King was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2007. She became proactive and her desire to become healthier lead to a time as a paid spokesperson for Nutri-system. King dropped 35 pounds and learned how to make better choices about food.
• In 1996, comic actor Tracy Morgan was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He ignored the disease until 2007, when it reached a crisis point. His body suffered quite a bit of damage and the star had a kidney transplant in 2010. Now he takes insulin daily and monitors his blood sugar to ensure it does not exceed 120.
• Author Anne Rice was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1998 after nearly slipping into a diabetic coma. Rice tests her blood sugar four times each day. She also had gastric bypass surgery and shed over 100 pounds. Now she rides a stationary bike every day and has made significant dietary and lifestyle changes.
• In 2005, pop star Nick Jonas was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. This was also the year he become a member of the group the Jonas Brothers. Jonas has learned how to manage diabetes, despite his hectic touring schedule. He maintains a positive attitude and talks about diabetes management whenever he has the opportunity to inspire others.
• Justice Sonia Sotomayer found out she had type 1 diabetes when she was 8 years old. Sotomayer grew up in a public housing project, wound up studying at Yale and Princeton and ultimately landed a position on the Supreme Court. She has never let diabetes hold her back.
• In 1999, Olympic swimmer Gary Hall, Jr. was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and doctors told him a year later he would never be able to compete. During that same year, he earned his first gold medal in the 50-meter freestyle race. He repeated this successful endeavor in 2004. His Foundation for Diabetes supports research that is focused on finding a cure. Hall is also a spokesperson for the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI).

All of these famous people with diabetes prove people with diabetes can manage the disease and have full lives. Each is a hero in his or her own right, showing we can all be heroes in our own lives. Each personal and health victory is another step on the road to success!