Diabetes is a chronic disease in which excess sugar builds up in the blood because the body has trouble making or using insulin, a hormone that controls sugar. It causes symptoms such as excessive thirst, weight loss, blurred vision and fatigue.
With type 1 diabetes, which usually occurs earlier in life, the pancreas cannot produce insulin. On the other hand, type 2 diabetes tends to appear in adulthood and occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or does not use it properly.
Some women also develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Hormonal changes and weight gain during this time sometimes prevent a woman’s body from producing enough insulin, so her blood sugar levels rise.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 422 million people worldwide live with a diagnosis of diabetes. In recognition of World Diabetes Day on November 14, Yahoo Canada has put together a list of 10 celebrities who have shared their experiences with the disease.
1. Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 13 after suddenly losing nine kilograms (20 pounds) in a matter of weeks. The “Sucker” singer has since been candid about his journey with diabetes, saying, “It was kind of a scary reality that I had to face, but not something I was going, for a single second, let that slow me down.”
He recently received the Golden Glove Award from the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation for his advocacy and works with the Time in Range campaign to encourage people with diabetes to regularly monitor their blood sugar.
2. Halle Berry
Shortly after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 22, Halle Berry adopted a keto diet and has stuck with it ever since. “Because I have diabetes, nutrition has been a huge part of my life,” she said. Initiated. In 2004, the “Catwoman” actress became an ambassador for the national diabetes education program, and in 2020 she launched an app to promote wellness and weight loss.
3.Tom Hank
Tom Hanks was in the midst of a blossoming career when he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2013. While appearing on the ‘Late Show with David Letterman,’ the ‘Forrest Gump’ actor explained that he had been experiencing symptoms of high blood sugar for 20 years. years before being officially diagnosed with diabetes. He has since said he thinks his poor food choices are to blame, even calling himself a “total idiot”.
4. Max Domi
Chicago Blackhawks forward Max Domi has had type 1 diabetes since he was first diagnosed at age 12. After his diagnosis, he spent a week in a children’s hospital learning how to manage his illness, but his diagnosis didn’t stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a professional hockey player. When the Winnipeg native isn’t busy playing in the NHL, Domi works as a defenseman with Ascensia Diabetes Care.
5. Meghan Trainor
Meghan Trainor developed gestational diabetes at the age of 26 while pregnant. Since gestational diabetes carries risks for both mother and baby, the “All About That Bass” singer said she and her husband have changed their diets for the rest of her pregnancy. Her son, Riley, was born in February 2021.
6. Salma Hayek
When Salma Hayek was pregnant at the age of 41, she knew there were inherent risks. One complication she faced was her gestational diabetes, which she says caused severe nausea throughout her pregnancy. She gave birth to a healthy daughter, Valentina, in 2007.
7. Sherri Berger
Sherri Shepherd was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2007, which prompted her to start monitoring her health and taking better care of herself. “Diabetes saved my life. It literally changed my life for the better,” the actress and comedian told Yahoo Life in 2020.
Shepherd’s mother had already died of complications from diabetes, but she still struggled to come to terms with the seriousness of the disease. Today, the TV personality is focused on eating healthier meals and exercising regularly.
8. Billy Porter
Billy Porter has faced multiple health issues over the years. In 2021, he revealed that he had been diagnosed not only with type 2 diabetes, but also with HIV in 2007. However, he says his diagnosis actually made him better: “I go to the doctor and I know what’s going on in my body. I’m healthier than I’ve been in my entire life.”
9. Lila Moss
Lila Moss followed in the footsteps of her famous mom, Kate Moss, but she also left her mark on the fashion landscape. During an appearance at Milan Fashion Week and a recent fashion campaign, Lila proudly wore her insulin pump, proving to the world that no one should be ashamed of a diabetes diagnosis. The model was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 12 years old.
10. Alexandra Park
Alexandra Park may be most familiar to audiences as Princess Eleanor in “The Royals,” but her memoir doesn’t center on her rise to fame. Titled “Sugar High,” Park’s book instead focuses on her experience with type 1 diabetes, a diagnosis she received at the age of 23, just before her life-changing casting call. She openly expressed her hope that the book will help people with diabetes feel less alone.
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