Did You Know These Celebrities Are Living With Diabetes?

Despite their high profile, these celebrities are open about living with diabetes and the struggles they face in managing the condition.

Tom Hanks

In 2013, Tom Hanks revealed on the “Late Show” with David Letterman that he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The star – known for playing the roles of Forest Gump, Woody from Toy Story, and FBI Agent Carl Hanratty, among others –  blamed himself for developing the disease and says he ignored medical advice for years before discovering he had type 2 diabetes.

During his interview with Letterman, Hanks said, “I went to the doctor, and he said, ‘You know those high blood sugar numbers you’ve been dealing with since you were 36? Well, you’ve graduated! You’ve got type 2 diabetes, young man.'”

According to the World Health Organization, type 2 diabetes, also known as non-insulin dependent or adult-onset diabetes, “results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin. Type 2 diabetes comprises the majority of people with diabetes around the world, and is largely the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity.”^[1]

Luckily, the acclaimed actor has made an effort to control his weight and to keep his blood sugars at a manageable level through proper dieting and by losing weight since his diagnosis.

Jay Cutler

Believe it or not, Miami Dolphins’ quarterback Jay Cutler is also living (and playing football) with diabetes. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2008, Cutler has a lot to consider besides strategy when prepping for games.

During the 2007 NFL season, Cutler was often tired, felt weak, and even lost 33 pounds. It turns out diabetes was to blame for the drastic weight loss and by April 2008 he was officially diagnosed with the disease. Cutler says that managing his diet by watching what he eats is an important part of managing the disease.

“Diabetes is all about insulin levels and sugar levels and what you put in your body,” Cutler told ESPN. “The more you put in your body the more you have to regulate it with insulin. So later kickoffs you’re talking about breakfast, lunch and a pregame meal, so that’s more food you’ve got to be aware of and what you put in your body. A noon game, light breakfast, a little fruit and some insulin and I’m good to go.”

Cutler has admitted to using an insulin pump to help manage his blood sugar levels, but he removes the pump for games. During the 2008 Pro Bowl, his teammates tried to pull a prank on him by throwing him into a pool. Little did they know, he was wearing his blood-glucose monitor (which was obviously ruined). Whoops!

Salma Hayek

Last but certainly not least is the Oscar-nominated actress Salma Hayek. Hayek developed gestational diabetes in 2007 during her pregnancy with her daughter Valentina and she was surprised to discover she had the condition at the age of 41.

“It occurs in women who have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy,” Hayek told Parents. “I didn’t know whether I was feeling bad because I was pregnant or whether something was seriously wrong. I was nauseated for nine months, which can be one of the symptoms.”

Health experts recommend that pregnant women get checked for gestational diabetes to prevent complications. Gestational diabetes often disappears after giving birth, but it can develop into type 2 diabetes later in life.

These celebrities are just a few of the actors, athletes, and musicians that are living with diabetes. You may not realize that the disease is actually fairly common; in the United States alone there are 30.3 million people living with diabetes; that’s over 9% of the population.^[2]

Despite living with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes, these celebrities haven’t let the disease keep them down; they’ve overcome their diagnoses and have become role models for others struggling with the condition.