30 Celebrities You Might Not Have Known Are Diabetic

These celebs share their type 1 or type 2 diagnoses, helping to raise awareness

Kylin

• Published in Film & TV
• May 29, 2022

Diabetes is an incurable chronic illness that affects how your body turns food into energy. If you have diabetes, it means that your body either:

1. doesn’t make enough insulin or

2. can’t use the insulin it makes as well as it should. 

Insulin is the hormone that controls the blood sugar levels in your body’s cells at any given moment. Insulin helps store glucose in your liver, fat, and muscles, and it also regulates your body’s metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Too much blood sugar will stay in your bloodstream when there isn’t enough insulin or when cells stop responding to insulin. That can cause serious health problems over time, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant).

Type 1 diabetes is also called Juvenile diabetes, because young adults, teenagers, and children are usually diagnosed with this. It is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction that stops your body from making insulin.

Type 2 diabetes differs because it's not that your body isn’t making any insulin, but when your body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels. It develops over many years and is usually diagnosed in adults

Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant people who have never had diabetes. Gestational diabetes typically goes away after the baby is born but the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life is increased.

Now that you’re armed with all that information on diabetes, scroll to find out which 30 celebrities are diabetic, how they found out, and how they’re managing.

1. Nick Jonas

The pop star was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 13. He's shared some insight regarding his diagnosis, writing on Instagram: "This experience has shaped how I approach my health – working out, eating well, and always thinking about my blood sugar and insulin needs."

2. Halle Berry

Berry was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 22 years old and initially said the diagnosis left her terrified. Since then, she's gained a positive outlook on the diagnosis.

"Diabetes turned out to be a gift," she told the Daily Mail. "It gave me strength and toughness because I had to face reality, no matter how uncomfortable or painful it was."

3. Chaka Khan

"The diagnosis snapped me right out of the depression," the singer said about receiving a Type 2 diagnosis after a bad breakup. "I said to myself, I'm not going to live like this."

She also told Health Monitor, "Diabetes was my new beginning."

4. Paula Deen

Paula Deen is synonymous with butter, but the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes in 2009 inspired the chef to overhaul her diet. "I've always preached moderation," she told the New York Times in 2012, "I don't blame myself."

5. S. Epatha Merkerson

The Law and Order actress was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at the age of 50, the same disease that contributed to the death of her father and grandmother.

"My diagnosis was a wake-up call," she told USA Today. "I knew I had to start making serious changes to my lifestyle to take control of my health."

6. Sharon Stone

The actress has Type 1 diabetes, and apparently fields a lot of questions about her "secret" to staying in shape with the disease. "My secret is no secret," she told E! News, "I just do all the things you're supposed to do. I eat right, I sleep, I work out, I'm happy. I choose the good things."

7. Theresa May

The former British Prime Minister was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2012. "The crucial thing to me is being a diabetic doesn't stop you from doing anything," she said during a Facebook Live interview.

8. Anne Rice

After a life-threatening event in 1998 where she fell into a diabetic coma, the American gothic author was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

9. Earl "The Pearl" Monroe

The retired basketball player was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in his mid-50s. "People with diabetes can look at me, know I played professional basketball, and recognize the fact that we all have the same problem, regardless of who we are," Monroe told Everyday Health.

10. Bret Michaels

The singer was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was just 6 years old. "My challenge was brought on early because I had no choice,” he told Yahoo Lifestyle, “And in some great way it really helped me step up to the plate.”

11. Lea DeLaria

Although it runs in her family, with her mother and brother both having Type 2 diabetes, it was still a surprise for the actor/comedian when she received the same diagnosis in 2014.

12. George Lucas

The man behind Star Wars discovered that he had Type 2 diabetes when he was undergoing a medical checkup for his draft for the Vietnam War.

13. Randy Jackson

The music producer and former American Idol judge was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2003. "I realized a lot of things that can happen if you don't manage it, which is why I encourage everyone to do so," he told Health.

14. Gabourey Sidibe

After receiving a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis, the actress underwent laparoscopic bariatric surgery. "I truly didn't want to worry about all the effects that go along with diabetes," she told People. "I genuinely [would] worry all the time about losing my toes."

In her book, This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare she shares, "It has taken me years to realize that what I was born with is all beautiful. I did not get this surgery to be beautiful. I did it so I can walk around comfortably in heels. I want not to be in pain every time I walk up a flight of stairs."

15. Patti LaBelle

LaBelle discovered she had Type 2 diabetes after passing out on stage during a performance. Diabetes is prevalent in her family, with her mother having to amputate her legs, and her Uncle going blind from the disease.

"You can take hold of the situation," Labelle told People, "I feel great now. I live the right way. I wear fierce clothes. Everything I do now, I do it proud. I am a divabetic!"

16. Jay Cutler

In 2008, the former NFL quarterback was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. "When I first got it, I was 24, I just kind of ate whatever I wanted, did whatever I wanted, lived however I wanted," he told ESPN. "As I get older and maybe a little bit wiser you realize how much stuff affects your body and what it can do."

17. Damon Dash

The American entrepreneur and record producer was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 15 years old. He calls himself an ‘OG of Diabetes’ since he's lived with the disease most of his life.

18. Delta Burke

The Designing Women actress was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at the age of 41. Today, she is working to spread awareness about the disease.

19. Paul Sorvino

In 2006, the Goodfellas actor was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. He credits his daughter Mira Sorvino with helping him maintain his health.

20. Vanessa Williams

The singer is a Type 1 diabetic who uses her platform to support multiple charities for diabetes research. "I am happy for my journey," she told Essence. "I am right where I am supposed to be, and I'm looking forward to where I'm going in the future."

21. Sonia Sotomayor

The Associate Justice of the Supreme Court shared that she was 7 years old when first noticed her Type 1 diabetes symptoms. "Diabetes is a constant part of my life," she shared with the Children's Congress of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

However, all the struggles she faced growing up diabetic hasn't stopped her from securing her "dream job."

22. Salma Hayek

While Hayek is not currently diabetic, she did develop gestational diabetes while she was pregnant with her daughter, Valentina. While gestational diabetes is treatable and typically goes away after giving birth, people who had it are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life, according to Mayo Clinic.

23. Jerry Mathers

The Leave It to Beaver actor was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1997 after he had started his own catering business.

24. Drew Carey

The Price is Right host lost 80 pounds after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, effectively putting the disease into remission.

25. Billie Jean King

The legendary tennis player was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2007. "Anyone can develop diabetes, even an athlete," she told Health.

26. James Earl Jones

The actor with the iconic voice discovered he had Type 2 diabetes after he fell asleep sitting on a bench at the gym. Since then, he's relied on his family to help him make healthier choices.

"I love working, and at my age I still love being able to put in eight shows a week on a play or handle a long schedule if I'm doing film or television," he shared. "I didn't want that to stop, so I had to take responsibility with my condition."

27. David "Boomer" Wells

In 2007 the former Yankees pitcher shared his Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. "I want to be around for awhile," he told ESPN.

"If you don't take care of this, it can lead to some scary stuff, like losing limbs. If anyone has this, it's a red flag, period. But if I follow the rules I've been given, there's no problem."

28. Tom Hanks

In 2013, the beloved Oscar winner was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. He believes that his years of yo-yo dieting for film roles could have been a contributing factor.

"I'm part of the lazy American generation that has blindly kept dancing through the party and now finds ourselves with a malady ... I was a total idiot," he told E! News.

29. Larry King

The late television personality was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1995. "I follow my doctor's wishes, I take my prescription drugs, I take a lot of vitamins," he told the LA Times in 2015.

30. Sherri Shepherd

The actress and TV personality has Type 2 diabetes. "If you have diabetes, it's not a death sentence," Shepherd told U.S. News.

"And if you're pre-diabetic, don't sit in the dark and try to ignore it. So many people are paralyzed with fear, but knowledge is power."

While there hasn’t been a cure discovered yet for diabetes, there are attainable steps that can help maintain a healthy life with the disease. Losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active can help, along with taking any necessary medication as needed.

Having a good support system and being well educated on the illness, as well as keeping up on your health care appointments all can help reduce the negative impact of diabetes. If you learned something new today or found this to be interesting, share it with your friends!

Kylin