15 Celebrities Beating Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetic neuropathy is currently one of the fastest-growing chronic diseases globally, which is nerve damage that too often results from diabetes. Managing blood sugar to normal levels is the best way to avoid complications, like diabetic neuropathy, and is what the route celebrities are embracing.
Diabetic neuropathy damages the nerves in people with high blood sugar levels particularly in their legs, feet, heart, and digestive system.
Diabetic neuropathy is serious and can offer many complications where in advanced stages people find the symptoms extremely painful and even disabling. It is estimated that 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes, with 1 in 3 living with pre-diabetes in which blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be officially diagnosed as diabetes. The good news is that most people can prevent diabetic neuropathy and even slow down the progress with lifestyle changes. Most importantly, diet and exercise.
Even some of our favorite celebrities are not immune to this chronic disease, below are some leading names that have and are beating type 2 diabetes to avoid complications, like diabetic neuropathy.
#1 Halle Barry
Halle Berry was diagnosed with diabetes in her early 20’s after slipping into a week-long coma. It is reported that she felt fatigued and passed out while filming on the famous show “Living Dolls.” Berry has since changed her diet in a bid to beat type 2 diabetes and now leads a much healthier lifestyle.
#2 Tom Hanks
The famous Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Tom Hanks announced he was diagnosed with diabetes in 2013. He had reportedly been battling high blood sugar issues for many years since he was 36 years old. He received the type 2 diabetes diagnosis while he was working on “The Late Show”. Hanks mentioned that the constant change in diets for acting roles may have played a key part in getting type 2 diabetes. Since 2013 he has worked hard to maintain his health to help beat diabetes.
#3 Larry King
Legendary journalist and radio host Larry King was diagnosed with diabetes in 1995. Since the diagnosis, King went on to change his diet completely and significantly lost a lot of weight. He then also quit smoking and developed a healthier lifestyle. King lived fighting diabetes well until his passing at age 87. His legacy includes more than 60,000 interviews with celebrities, politicians, and athletes from around the world.
#4 Randy Jackson
Randy Jackson is a popular musician, producer, and judge from the famous TV show “American Idol.” He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in his late 40s. Since the diagnosis, Jackson has paid close attention to this health, especially so after his gastric bypass surgery that took place in 2004.
#5 Gabourey Sidibe
Gabourey Sidibe is another celebrity who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but chose not to get disheartened. Instead, she knew it was time to take control of her health and has been on a constant mission to lose more weight since the diagnosis. She made the decision to work with a nutritionist to help her eat a healthier diet after her bariatric surgery in 2016.
#6 Paula Deen
Paula Deen is a celebrity chef who announced she has type 2 diabetes at the age of 64. Deen is famous for her exclusive recipes of calorie-filled and fat-laden dishes from the South. She is currently working on ways to improve her overall health to help fight type 2 diabetes.
#7 Paul Sorvino
The actor known for his roles in “Law & Order” and “The Goodfellas,” Sorvino was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2006. His symptoms included feeling tired and thirsty for several months before his diagnosis. He apparently almost passed out whilst having dinner and that was the call to action for his daughter to help her father. As a result, he now has full control of his diabetes thanks to changes to his diet and regular exercise.
#8 Sherri Shepherd
Sherri Shepherd is the famous comedian and TV host of the show “The View” on ABC, Shepherd was diagnosed with diabetes in 2007. She didn’t change her diet right away until she had a noticeable vision the following year that made her make some big changes to her lifestyle. She hired a personal trainer and nutritionist in a bid to lose weight and gain control of her health. The results were amazing, and she was able to drop to a size 4 from a size 16.
#9 Patti LaBelle
Patti LaBelle is a renowned American singer who has won Grammy Awards twice in her career and is a leading author. She had no symptoms of diabetes leading up to her diagnosis, and as a surprise to her and many others passed out during a stage performance in 1994. LaBelle went on to change her cooking recipes to healthier alternatives and released three cookbooks geared towards diabetic-friendly eating.
#10 Drew Carey
Drew Carey was previously known as the overweight comedian but had a dramatic lifestyle change after his diagnosis in 2010. He went on to lose 80 pounds and cured himself of all the symptoms related to type 2 diabetes. The secret he claims to his treatment of type 2 diabetes was his switch to a strict healthy whole foods diet.
#11 Mike Huckabee
The leading presidential hopeful and then Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee went on to lose 105 pounds after he was diagnosed with diabetes. He was diagnosed in 2003 and paid special attention to his health after former governor and close friend Frank White died. He now leads a much healthier lifestyle with no symptoms thanks to his efforts to control the disease.
#12 Delta Burke
Delta Burke became famous for the show “Designing Women.” She was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 41 in 1997. She made a conscious effort to take control of her health and was able to manage her diabetes by lowering her blood sugar levels through regular exercise and a clean diet.
#13 Dick Clark
Leading American TV personality announced in 2004 he had type 2 diabetes. It is reported that he was originally diagnosed 10 years prior at the age of 54, but went public with the news when he was 64. Later the same year he had a stroke and wasn’t able to return to work in television until 2006. Upon his return, he made a conscious effort to lead a healthier lifestyle in a quest to prolong his life.
#14 Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the age of 63. King is famous for the Women’s Sports Foundation that she founded in 1974. She had a family history of type 2 diabetes and partially puts this down to her own diagnosis. However, in response to her diabetes diagnosis, she began exercising regularly, eating healthy, and actively monitoring her blood sugar levels.
#15 David “Boomer” Wells
David “Boomer” Wells, former Major League Baseball player for 21 years most notably with the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees, struggled with weight problems even during his playing days. He believes consuming too much alcohol regularly along with bad eating habits was the reason for his diabetes diagnosis. He was diagnosed in 2007 with type 2 diabetes, and in an effort to maintain a healthy lifestyle, he cut alcohol and carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, and bread from his diet. He believes this is what helped him to control his diabetes to now lead a healthier lifestyle.