Fact: diabetes can often go left untreated, flying dangerously under the radar. And considering more than 1.7million Australians have some form of the condition, this is a worrying realisation.
Similarly, these stars feel the same. At various points in their lives, they’ve been diagnosed with the health condition – be it pre-diabetes, Type 1, Type 2 or gestational diabetes – and now they’re turning their diagnosis into a conversation starter, raising awareness as they go.
This National Diabetes Week, scroll through this list of A-listers who are flying the flag for diabetes and using their star power to raise awareness for the condition.
Halle Berry was 19 when she fell into a diabetic coma that culminated in a type-2 diabetes diagnosis. It initially caught the actress off-guard, but she now takes daily insulin injections and sticks to a clean, healthy diet, telling the LA Times that she opts for “lots of vegetables; no breads… and lots of water.”
When Mariah Carey was pregnant with twins Monroe and Moroccan, now four, she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. Mariah recalls that it was “a really difficult pregnancy” and has openly said that she won’t be expanding her brood. Only time – or Mariah’s World – will tell.
Tom Hanks takes full responsibility for his Type 2 diabetes. He told the Radio Times: “I’m part of the lazy American generation… I was heavy. You’ve seen me in movies, you know what I looked like. I was a total idiot.” The actor is now working towards a target weight set by his doctor so he can reduce the risk of complications linked to diabetes.
Delta Goodrem’s ex, Nick Jonas, found out that he had Type 1 diabetes as a teenager. He co-founded Beyond Type 1, a non-profit charity that offers support, shared stories and information to those affected by the disease. He’s vocal about living healthily, even when your lifestyle is hectic.
Rob Kardashian was rushed to hospital late last year and diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. When big sis Khloe appeared on Good Morning America, she confirmed that he was taking the diagnosis seriously and said it had given him a reason to “jumpstart his health journey”.
Marcia Hines has lived with Type 1 diabetes for almost 30 years. The Aussie music icon manages it with regular exercise, a healthy diet and the occasional treat. In 2010, she starred in Sweet Talk – My Life with Diabetes in a bid to build awareness and education around the common health condition.
Salma Hayek had gestational diabetes whilst pregnant with her daughter Valentina, now eight. Not that she knew it at first: “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,” she told American Baby.
TV tradie Rob Palmer found out that he had Type 1 diabetes when he was just seven-years-old. The super-smiley chippie is typically upbeat about his health, saying speaking up about the condition is the best thing you can do. Despite taking home the title on Dancing with the Stars in 2010, he admits that the show was challenging for him: “I checked my blood glucose levels more than usual, required more insulin and ate less food.”
Cathy Freeman’s pre-diabetes turned into Type 2 after the birth of her daughter, Ruby, now five. Despite a family history of the disease, the diagnosis came as a shock to the Olympic gold medallist who believed she would be safe from “lifestyle” diabetes. Cathy’s since been committed to raising awareness that Indigenous Australians are three times more likely to develop the disease.
