Celebrities With Diabetes

Diabetes Miletus is a disorder of the metabolism that leads to imbalances of sugar levels in the blood. The person suffers from either disrupted insulin levels, a hormone released by the pancreas that breaks down sugar, or defective insulin action.

There are two kinds of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. In Type 1 Diabetes, the person suffers from high blood sugar levels due to a diminished or less than normal production of insulin in the body. In Type 2 diabetes, the body develops resistance to the effects of insulin and thus the sugar doesn't break down, instead it stays in the blood stream. Although there is no cure for diabetes, it can be overcome and treated. The medical invention of insulin has made this possible for patients of Type 1 diabetes, while those with Type 2 can overcome their diabetic condition with the help of dietary changes.

Being a diabetic is not the end of the world, and you may be surprised and relived to know how many famous people actually made great careers for themselves despite having diabetes. Not only this, they made an impact on the world around them, and led very fulfilling lives. Sometimes, when dealing with your own diabetic problems, it helps to read about others whom the spotlight loved despite their health conditions. You are who you are and that's not necessarily the function of your heath, though your commitment to your own health is a mark of how much you value life in general. So here are the celebrities that have valued life, and made a name for themselves while they were at it;

1. Halle Berry: this Oscar winning actress was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 22 and since then has made ground breaking performances as an actress. She was Storm in The X-Men and her Oscar winning role was in the movie The Monster's Ball. Recently Halle Berry has gotten raised eyebrows for a statement she made that her Type 1 diabetes has transformed into Type 2 diabetes, which doctors say is impossible. Nonetheless, the woman is an icon and a force to reckon with across the entertainment industry.

2. Randy Jackson: the music director and co-judge on American Idol has Type 2 diabetes. Randy also has a family history of diabetes and is the celebrity spokesperson for The Heart of Diabetes from the American Hearts Association.

Among other people, across the globe, who have diabetes, here a few names;

Jack Benny - Comedian

Wilford Brimley - Actor (Cocoon, The China Syndrome)

J. Anthony Brown - Actor (Drumline), comedian, radio personality, dLifeTV co-host

Delta Burke - Actress (Designing Women) Miss Florida; Miss USA

James Cagney - Actor (Public Enemy, Angels With Dirty Faces, Yankee Doodle Dandy)

Nell Carter - Actress (Gimme a Break)

Alvin Childress - Actor (Amos & Andy)

Dick Clark - Entertainer, television producer

James Doohan - Actor (Scotty from Star Trek)

Dale Evans - Entertainer (The Yellow Rose of Texas, The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show)

Stephen Furst - Actor (Animal House)

Victor Garber - Actor (Alias, Titanic, First Wives Club, Sleepless in Seattle)

Jackie Gleason- Actor (The Honeymooners, Smokey and the Bandit, The Hustler)

Dorian Gregory - Actor (Baywatch Nights, Charmed, The Other Half)

Dana Hill - Actress (Shoot the Moon, European Vacation)

Nicole Johnson - dLifeTV co-host, Miss America 1999; author and diabetes advocate.

Zippora Karz - Ballet teacher, former NYC Ballet Soloist

Larry King - Talk show host

Al Lewis - Actor (The Munsters)

Jerry Lewis - Comedian

Jerry Mathers - Actor (Leave it to Beaver)

Mary Tyler Moore - Actress (Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Tyler Moore Show, Ordinary People) and diabetes advocate

Mother Love - Entertainer, author, motivational speaker, dLifeTV co-host

Richard Mulligan - Actor (Soap, Empty Nest)

Carroll O'Conner - Actor (All in the Family, Heat of the Night)

Park Overall - Actress (Empty Nest)

Della Reese - Actress, singer (Touched by an Angel)

Esther Rolle - Actress (Good Times)

Sir Harry Secombe - Welsh singer, entertainer; former president of the British Diabetic Association.

Jean Smart - Actress (Designing Women)

Elaine Stritch - Comedian, actress

Elizabeth Taylor - Actress (National Velvet, Cleopatra, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof)

Jim Turner - Actor (Bewitched, Arli$$), dLifeTV co-host

Aida Tuturro - Actress (The Sopranos)

Ben Vereen - Actor, performer, humanitarian

Mae West - Actress (My Little Chickadee, I'm No Angel)

• John Palsson
• 22/12/2008, 6:59 AM
• 0 Comments