12 Stars Who Suffer From Diabetes

Diabetes is a lifelong medical condition that affects nearly 350 million people world wide. There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2, which is preventable through proper diet and exercise. Living with diabetes can be overwhelming, so we’d like to show you that you’re not alone. Some of your favorite celebrities live with the condition, too. Here are 12 stars who suffer from diabetes and have found ways to shed a positive light on the disease. Be inspired by them.

1. Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks announced that he suffered from type 2 diabetes in 2013. The famed actor had been experiencing high blood sugar levels for years before officially being diagnosed. Doctors say that his drastic weight changes for movie roles could have brought on his medical condition. He dropped nearly 50 lbs. for his Castaway role in just a few short months.

2. Halle Berry

The ever-beautiful Halle Berry was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 22 after the actress fell into a week-long coma. Then, in 2007 Berry said that she had weened herself off of insulin. Doctors believed that Berry had originally been misdiagnosed and must have had type 2 all along, because type 1 patients can’t survive without insulin.

3. Randy Jackson

“Yeah dawg, I have diabetes.” The American Idol judge and music producer was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2002. At the time Jackson weighed over 300 lbs. He began suffering from what he believed to be flu-like symptoms, however the symptoms were actually a result of high blood sugar. Randy underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2003 and lost nearly 115 lbs. Today, Jackson lives a much healthier lifestyle. With dieting and exercise as part of his routine he’s able to manage his diabetes.

4. Dick Clark

American broadcasting legend Dick Clark publicly announced that he had type 2 diabetes in 2004, although the host had been diagnosed 10 years earlier. Clark soon became a spokesperson for the American Association of Diabetes Educators. Then, in 2005 Clark suffered from a major stroke and didn’t return to television until the 2006 New Year’s Eve countdown. Sadly, the great Dick Clark passed away in 2012 at age 82 after suffering from a heart attack.

5.Drew Carey

Once known as the overweight star of The Drew Carey Show, the comedic actor surprised fans when he shed nearly 80 lbs. in 2010. Carey says that losing the weight nearly cured his type 2 diabetes as he no longer needed his medication. Today, a much healthier and happier Drew Carey hosts the iconic game show, The Price is Right.

6. Paula Deen

The controversial chef who’s best known for her high calorie southern dishes, unsurprisingly suffers from type 2 diabetes. Although an unhealthy diet doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get type 2 diabetes, it is a major contributor along with being overweight, aging and insulin resistance.

7. Sherri Shepherd

Shepherd was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2007, just days before she became a co-host on The View. Shepherd had an awakening when “I had this vision of my son, Jeffrey, who was 2 then, lying on his bed and crying because he was trying to figure out where heaven was. Because that’s where everyone said Mommy was.” Shepherd immediately made some lifestyle changes, hired a nutritionist and went from a size 16 to a size 4.

8. Larry King

Larry King has a history of heart disease. The 81-year old television and radio host suffered a major heart attack in 1987 and was later diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1995. King made changes to his lifestyle, quit smoking, began eating healthier and wrote a book about his health complications in 2004, entitled Taking on Heart Disease.

9. Bret Michaels

Bret Michaels has been suffering from a number of health complications over the past few years. But, the Poison frontman has actually been living with type 1 diabetes since he was 6-years old. Michaels offers this piece of advice for those who are also living with the condition – “accept that you have the disease. Keep taking your insulin. Keep it under control. Also, enjoy your life. I have stayed in good physical shape by having mind, matter, and music over the disease.”

10. Nick Jonas

The youngest Jonas brother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2005, the same year that his family’s band took off. Nick admitted to having difficulty managing his disease while on tour, but he said that he has a great support team to assist him. Nick also realizes that sharing his story with fans is rewarding, “The first time I heard someone say ‘thanks for sharing,’ I thought, if I can use this as an opportunity to inspire people, then it’s all worth it.”

11. Vanessa Williams

In 1983, Vanessa Williams became the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America. More recently, Vanessa has been a star on the hit series 666 Park Avenue and ABC’s Ugly Betty. Williams is a type 1 diabetic and the cause is unknown. The actress wrote a diabetes book for children, entitled Healthy Child. At 51, Williams is also an exercise lover and health nut, which she says helps control her condition.

12. Tommy Lee

The Motley Crue drummer and Pamela Anderson’s ex suffers from type 2 diabetes. As we noted earlier, being overweight can be one of the triggers of the disease, however Tommy Lee has always boasted an extremely small frame. Surprisingly, being underweight can also increase your risk of diabetes.