Celebrities With Diabetes

Bret Michaels

Bret Michaels has type one diabetes. Bret Michaels recently won NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice. He is also the lead singer for the group Poison and star of the VH1 reality TV show Rock of Love. He became a diabetic at 6 years old. As an adult, Michaels has had to learn to take care of his diabetes while living the life of a rock star. in 2010, he suffered major health problems and plans for heart surgery in the fall.

Kelli Kuehne has type 1 diabetes. Kuehne is a professional golfer but uses an insulin pump to manage her diabetes.

Nick Jonas

Singer Nick Jonas is a type 1 diabetic. Jonas, from Jonas Brothers, went public in 2007. He has said that his symptoms included weight loss and thirst. Jonas was hospitalized and learned to manage his diabetes.

Jay Cutler

The Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is a type 1 diabetic. Cutler was diagnosed in 2008 after he lost 35 pounds and felt like he had no energy. Cutler now wears an insulin pump, monitors his blood sugar.

Anne Rice

Novelist Anne Rice has type 1 diabetes. She didn’t know she had diabetes until it nearly took her life in 1998 when she entered a diabetic coma.

Charlie Kimball

Firestone Indy Lights race car driver, Charlie Kimball has type 1 diabetes. Charlie was diagnosed with diabetes in 2007 when he began to have health problems.  Charlie has not allowed diabetes to stop him from racing! He uses pre-filled insulin pens and wants to help other diabetics be successful by sharing his story.

Mary Tyler Moore

Actress Mary Tyler Moore has type 1 diabetes. Moore’s diabetes was diagnosed at age 30, when she was hospitalized after suffering a miscarriage. A routine blood test done at the hospital showed a very high blood sugar level of 750. “They put me on insulin right away,” Mary Tyler Moore is now in her 70s. Moore has long been active in promoting diabetes research and she serves as the International Chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Halle Berry

Actress Halle Berry has type 2 diabetes.

Randy Jackson

Randy Jackson has type 2 diabetes. Jackson is an American Idol judge. Jackson was obese and diabetes ran in his family. African Americans are also more likely than whites to develop diabetes. Jackson has since gotten gastric bypass surgery and lost 100 pounds, improved his diet, and exercises He walks on a treadmill and practices yoga.

Patti LaBelle

Singer Patti LaBelle has type 2 diabetes. LaBelle recalls she passed out on stage and the doctor came back and she told her she was diabetic. LaBelle, who has a family history of diabetes, had no idea. LaBelle writes healthy cookbooks and exercises regularly.

Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee is a type 2 diabetic. He is the former Arkansas governor who ran for president in 2008. Huckabee is now a TV show host on the Fox News Channel, Afterward learning of his diabetes, Huckabee upgraded his diet and became a runner. He shed 110 pounds, trimmed his BMI from obese to normal, and reversed his type 2 diabetes. Huckabee wrote a book about his transformation and promotes healthy living, starting in childhood.

Larry King

Retired CNN talk show host Larry King has type 2 diabetes. King had quintuple bypass heart surgery in 1987. King had been a heavy smoker, and smoking hurts the heart. But by taking care of his diabetes (and quitting smoking), King helps his heart and the rest of his body.