I was thinking this afternoon how we often see a lot of famous people on the tele doing endorsements for various products from skin care, exercise programs, kids charities and appeals for things like the horrible tsunami in Samoa. Whenever I see a celebrity doing their thing for charity I nod my head and think ‘good on ya’.
Then I got to thinking that with all the diabetics I know in real life I have never really heard anything about famous diabetics so I did a Google on it and found that there are heaps! Here are a few of the ones you’ll definitely know!
- Halle Berry
- Randy Jackson (the american idol judge. Type 2 I think)
- Bret Michaels (lead singer of Poison)
- Ray Croc (founder of McDonalds)
- Sharon Stone
That’s just the first few I found without too much effort that have type one but there were HEAPS with type two unsurprisingly. I wanted to find a famous NZer with diabetes too but the only on that I could find out about was Craig McMillan who was a batsman for the Blackcaps (now he’s a commentator on Sky TV though).
Anyhow, thought it might be interesting.
- Aaron
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Jane wrote
The MC for the Diabetes Youth Conference in Nelson has diabetes. I’m pretty sure he’s famous!!
Debs wrote
There are a couple of cyclists with Type 1 too. One of each sex I think and I am pretty sure one of them rides for Team Type 1 in the race across America.
Of course I could be completely wrong!
Aaron wrote
Check you guys out Debs and Jane! Coming to say hi on a Sunday avo! I can’t comment about the MC at the DYNZ conference Jane (I did hear that he was handsome though). Debs – what is Team Type 1?
Sianne wrote
One of the Jonas brothers has T1
Aaron wrote
See- they’re everywhere! Funny that we don’t really hear about them though eh.
Sarah wrote
Mary Tyler Moore was the celebrity T1 diabetic/alcoholic when I was diagnosed early 80s. And Johnny Cash died of T2 complications – but that doesn’t count, right? I think the Jonas brothers sing a pukey song about living with T1.
Aaron wrote
Well, the alcohol would have helped lower her BGs (bad joke). Poor JC – that last album was a proper gut wrencher…
Is the Jonas brothers song worse than the Diabetes YouTube wrap?
Jen wrote
Some other celebrities who have bring diabetes awareness to the public:
Heiress Casey Johnson of the Johnson & Johnson family is Type 1 and does alot of work for Juvenile Diabetes Foundation to promote awareness and has also written a book about living with diabetes. J&J do alot of work for diabetes research http://www.jjdi.us
Former Miss America, Nicole Johnson is type 1 and is a “international diabetes advocate”. http://www.nicolejohnson.com/
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Stars in Family-Friendly Diabetes Aware Ads in the States, although I don’t think he has the condition.
And founder of Def Jam Records, mega mogul and ex husband of Kimora Lee, Russell Simmons is Type 1.
Paul wrote
There was a All Black around 1996-2001 I think (not sure of his name but would love to know so I can finally give up looking!!!) he had type 1 and there was always an issue from the Doc about his fitness. Also there was a geezer on celeb treasure island who was type 1 and was eliminated because of it. I think he was South African.
Aaron wrote
That was that model guy called Mark something – Cant’ remember his last name but now that you mention him I remember that too.
Sophie wrote
Also, Steve Redgrave, the British rowing champ who won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000 – he has type one. Amazing!
Sianne wrote
Mark Hewlett
Sianne wrote
http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowContent/inspiration_expert_advice/famous_people/
Kris wrote
I know the Jonas Bros make adults want to vomit, but for my 6 year old T1, Nick Jonas is considered very cool & it really helps her to know that he has it too. As for Halle Berry, she is a diabetes denier – in the USA she is heavily criticised for saying she has been cured of her Type 1!