12 Celebrities With Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes Affects Famous Folks, Too

Diabetes can affect everyone, and celebrities are no exception. Read about 12 celebrities with type 2 diabetes and what they do to keep it in check.

By Wyatt Myers and Diana Rodriguez

Medically reviewed by Farrokh Sohrabi, MD

When celebrities are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, they have to make the same lifestyle changes that everyone else does — they just have to do it in the spotlight. From actors and musicians to professional athletes, diabetes can affect almost anyone. These celebs are just a few of the 26 million Americans living with the disease today — and here's how they manage to shine even with type 2 diabetes.

Tom Hanks

Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks, 57, announced to the world that he had type 2 diabetes while promoting the film, "Captain Phillips," in 2013. In an interview with David Letterman, he noted that he had been dealing with prediabetes and high blood sugar since age 36. His wife, actress Rita Wilson, noted that Hanks is feeling great and manages his type 2 diabetes with regular exercise, weight loss, and a healthy diet.

 

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Halle Berry

Stunning actress Halle Berry, 47, serves as a reminder that thin people can be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes too, especially when their ethnicity puts them at a greater risk for the disease. Berry was reportedly diagnosed with diabetes in 1989, after she collapsed while filming a TV show. Initially diagnosed with type 1 diabetes because of her normal weight, Berry's diagnosis was later switched to type 2 because her body is able to produce insulin. She has since said that she keeps the disease under control through a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Billie Jean King

Tennis legend Billie Jean King, 70, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2007. She has attributed her developing the disease to a fluctuating weight and sometimes unhealthy eating habits. She began to focus more seriously on her health after her diabetes diagnosis. "I started to plan and accept responsibility for my health," she wrote in a 2010 article for the Huffington Post.

B.B.King

"The King of Blues" wasn't unfamiliar with the disease when he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 34 years ago. B.B. King, now 88, had watched both of his parents suffer from complications of the disease when he was a child. King credits his good health to checking his blood sugar regularly — he's a spokesperson for LifeScan blood glucose monitoring products — and sticking to a healthy diet, limiting refined sugars and high-fat foods.

Larry King

He's one of the most well-known television interviewers alive, but Larry King, 80, has faced a couple of significant health challenges in his life. In a 2006 interview with Diabetes & You magazine, he revealed that a heart attack in 1987 made him give up smoking and change his lifestyle — and that a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in 1998 threw him another health curveball. King fights back against complications with a healthy diet, medication, and frequent checks of his A1C blood levels.

Randy Jackson

According to an interview with Everyday Health, when American Idol judge Randy Jackson, 57, got his type 2 diabetes wake-up call, he weighed about 350 pounds and had a blood sugar level of more than 500. But rather than let the disease get the best of him, Jackson reacted by modifying his diet and getting plenty of exercise, including walking. He also had weight-loss surgery to help get his weight down and he lost more than 100 pounds.

Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee, 58, the Arkansas politician, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2002. A 2004 Washington Post article revealed that Huckabee lost 110 pounds over the course of 18 months after being diagnosed. Huckabee has struggled to keep the weight off and has regained much of what he lost, despite having vowed not to return to the same poor eating habits that contributed to his obesity.

Patti LaBelle

In an interview with Everyday Health, Patti LaBelle revealed that her mother died of type 2 diabetes complications at age 58. Yet LaBelle, 69, remained in denial about her own risk until she passed out on stage during a concert. After four years of ignoring her symptoms, LaBelle finally took charge of her health, starting a regular exercise routine and a healthy diet. Today, LaBelle is 20 pounds lighter, a diabetes spokesperson, and even has her own cookbook entitled, "Patti LaBelle's Lite Cuisine."

Ben Vereen

Over the years, Ben Vereen has been nominated for and won Tony, Golden Globe, and Emmy awards for his dancing, singing, and acting. These days, the multi-talented Vereen, 67, spends most of his time as an advocate spreading awareness about type 2 diabetes. In an interview with WLS-TV ABC 7 News in Chicago, Vereen stressed the importance of people with diabetes checking their blood sugar in public. Vereen admits that this was the hardest hurdle for him to overcome, but now this celebrity is as comfortable reading his blood sugar as he is checking his cell phone.

Sherri Shepherd

Sherri Shepherd, 47, has garnered a lot of fans for her comedic chops on "The View." She has also shared information about her experience with type 2 diabetes with her audience. In an interview with Good Housekeeping magazine, the celebrity revealed how her mother died at age 41 from complications of type 2 diabetes. Vowing to not follow in her mother's footsteps, Shepherd has forsaken sweets for a healthy diet and regular exercise and dropped from a size 16 to a size 8.

David Wells

Type 2 diabetes can affect athletes too, even successful ones like former major league baseball pitcher David Wells. Although large for a pitcher, Wells, 50, had a successful major league career, even achieving the hallmark pitching achievement of a perfect game. In 2007, he went public about his type 2 diabetes when he revealed his diagnosis to ESPN. Today, Wells is retired from pitching, but he still works in baseball as a television commentator.

Mike Golic

The former NFL defensive tackle turned ESPN personality kept eating like a football player long after he left the field. At age 42 he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Golic, now 51, started cutting down his portion sizes and turned to healthier foods, including plenty of whole grains and fresh produce. And while he still enjoys eating chicken wings when watching football games, he only indulges in a few. Golic is outspoken in helping to educate others about type 2 diabetes and has hosted educational training camps for those who share his condition.

Source:everydayhealth.com