Category: 50 Celebrities With Diabetes

  was born Jack Roosevelt Robinson in 1919. He is a native of Cairo, Georgia. Robinson is one of the most famous baseball players to date. In 1947, he became the first major league African-American star. His career was the start of the end of baseball segregation. Robinson has won many awards including the first “Rookie of the Year”, “National League MVP” as well as the “Presidential Medal of Freedom”. Not only did he portray freedom in American sports, he also spoke out in the civil rights movement. Robinson supported Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962 and his player number 42 was retired in 1997. Jackie Robinson was an icon in American history. He died in 1972 of heart disease a well as complications to diabetes. Robinson was 53 years old.

Jackie Robinson

Robinson suffered from diabetes and heart problems through his later life. He was almost completely blind because of the diabetes. Robinson, who had to deal with more than his health issues in his life, died at an early age because of his illnesses.

is an American Icon. He was born in 1905 from Huston, Texas. Various books and stories have been written of the famous Hughes. He was an aviator, producer, director and still to this day, one of the wealthiest people in the world. Hughes is credited for building aircrafts, racers and increasing in productivity of Trans World Airlines. He has been in the spot light for over 80 years and he is still being talked about. Hughes has had several controversial issues in his life. However, most spoken and written words were assumed just to be rumors. In 1952, Hughes used his increasing wealth to create the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Howard Hughes died in 1976 of kidney failure. He was 71 years old.

Howard Hughes 

Throughout Hughes life he has had several medical problems. As a child, he developed a social anxiety disorder which made certain situations unbearable. He has also had various instances where the OCD disorder controlled his life. Hughes fell into a mental state of withdrawal. He was hardly seen and would lock himself up in his home for days at a time. While much has been written about Howard Hughes compulsive disorder, Hughes’ diabetes has received much less attention. A review of his life presents no evidence of a need to slow down, due to problems with diabetes.

 is one of the most famous American writers of the 1900s. He was born in 1899 from Oak Park, Illinois. During his life he has had several ups and downs. Hemingway is renowned for his works including “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, “The Old Man and the Sea” and “Men Without Women”. He has received the Noble Prize in Literature as well as the Pulitzer Prize. Hemingway has been a journalist, worked with commentaries and a national icon. With increasing stability problems, Ernest Hemingway took his own life in 1961. He was 62 years old.

Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway’s father had the same fate. He was distressed from diabetes and financial problems. Clarence Hemingway took his own life in 1928. This disturbed Hemingway fiercely. He became withdrawn and rather depressed. Several members of Hemingway’s family committed suicide through the years as well. Hemingway himself became a diabetic, struggling with the disease as he wrote in Europe, the U.S. and the islands of the Caribbean.

 is a professional basketball player. He was born in 1984 from Glendive, Montana. His career is still going strong. Morrison has won and been a finalist in several awards. He was a finalist in the Naismith and Wooden Awards. Morison was co-player of the year and won the Chevrolet Player of the Year award, in 2006. He is an outstanding basketball player that has achieved various records and awards for his performance. Adam Morrison is currently playing for the Charlotte Bobcats. He is 24 years old.

Adam Morrison

Morrison knew nothing about diabetes when he attended a basketball camp in eighth grade. While at that camp, Morrison got very sick, and he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Since then, he has been managing his diabetes through healthy eating habits as well as an insulin pump. This is attached to his body to give insulin when needed. Sports Illustrated did a spread on Morrison’s diabetic problems. Since that has been published, several parents and children have asked that Morrison speaks to them about the disease. He is a role model for young children as well as adults trying to live a normal life with diabetes.

Anne Rice‘s birth name is unusual. She was born Howard Allen O’Brien. The date of birth is 1941 and she is from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her birth name was given to her by her mother. This was because her father was named Howard and she thought it was a strong name that would give her an advantage in the world. She later adopted the name Anne in first grade. Rice is known for her vampire tales. She has sold more than 100 million copies of her books. They are still to this day selling like hot cakes. Rice is famous for her books including “Interview with the Vampire”, “The Witching Hour” and “Blackwood Farm”. Anne Rice is 67 years old.

Rice experienced many symptoms that she could not explain. These included a writer’s block, indigestion after every meal and weight loss. Rice ignored the symptoms and continued to work as normal. In 1998, Rice went into a coma. Doctors found that she had a blood sugar level of 800. Rice then joined the other celebrities who had been diagnosed as having type 1 diabetes. After this episode, she began speaking out for the awareness of diabetes.

 was born in 1882, a native from New York, New York. Many people may not recognize the name. Nevertheless, he was the Mayor of New York City during the depression era for 3 consecutive terms from 1934 to 1945. He increased the number of welfare agencies in the city. LaGuardia pushed for an airport in New York City. Many individuals may recognize the last name of LaGuardia from the international airport in New York City.

LaGuardia has an impressive history of being in the political spotlight. He has been a Representative, Deputy Attorney General and Congressman. He also served in the air force during World War 1. Fiorello LaGuardia died in 1947 of pancreatic cancer. He was 65 years old.

Fiorello LaGuardia

Jack Benny was born Benjamin Kubelsky in 1894. He was a native of Chicago, Illinois. Benny was a successful comedian, TV, stage and radio actor. He became a nation icon with a radio program called the Jack Benny show. Benny was a character actor. He was famous for his personality and the method in which he represented himself. Benny had various variety shows that situated sketched comedy. He invited many guests to his shows including Jimmy Stewart, George Burns and Orson Wells. His performances are still talked about to this day. Benny was a genius comedian and is missed by his friends and fans alike. Jack Benny died in 1974 of pancreatic cancer. He was 80 years old.

Benny had juvenile diabetes. He lived with this disease for his whole life. Benny never used his public voice to speak-out about diabetes.

Jackie Gleason was born as Herbert John Gleason in 1916. He was a native of Brooklyn, New York. Gleason is one of the most popular comedians in American history. Not only did he perform the comedic route, he was also known for dramatic roles as well. Most people know Gleason for his role as Ralph Kramden on the hit TV show “The Honeymooners”. His earlier life was troublesome, his father left and his mother died when he was only 19 years old. Gleason began his career on Broadway. “The Jackie Gleason Show” was an hour long variety program in the 50s. This became the second highest rated television show in the United States. Gleason was also a musician playing jazz. He has received an Academy Award for his dramatic performances. Jackie Gleason, an American icon, died in 1987 from liver and colon cancer. He was 71 years old.

Gleason was another comedian with diabetes. Gleason developed type 2 diabetes. While he did not make a direct reference to his diabetes while on-stage, he did become associated with an interesting statement. During almost every appearance, Gleason would say, “How sweet it is.”

Mikhail Gorbachev is one of the most famous Russian leaders of all times. He was born in 1931, a native of Privol’noe, Stavropol region, Russia. Gorbachev worked closely with President Ronald Reagan to bring the cold war to an end. He was the leader of Soviet Union from 1985 until its end in 1991. In 1990, he called for the withdrawal of all Soviet troops from Europe in 1990. Gorbachev was awarded the Noble Peace Prize for his work in bring the Cold war to an end. At present, Gorbachev is the leader of the Union of Social-Democrats. Mikhail Gorbachev is 77 years old.

During his life he has had some fantastic achievements. Gorbachev has another success story as well. He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but it has not slowed him down. He manages his diabetes with the correct diet and exercise regiment in addition to medication.

Miles Davis is perhaps the most significant musician to date. Davis was born in 1926 from Alton, Illinois. He was best known for his jazz techniques and songwriting abilities. Davis was recording and performing literally all of his life. He began in 1945, recording with blues singer Rubberleg Williams. Davis has played and preformed with all of the greats in blues and jazz history. The instrument of choice was the trumpet; however he played others as well. Throughout musical history, various sounds from the 60s and on were influenced by the styles of Miles Davis. He has won various awards including “Grammy Awards”, “Down Beat reader’s poll” and “Sonning Award”. Davis was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. He was inducted into the Hollywood’s Rockwalk in 2006. Davis achieved a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 1998. He is truly a master of his industry. Miles Davis died in 1991 from a pneumonia which turned into respiratory failure and stroke. He was 65 years old.

The jazz trumpeter had taken some rather unusual steps while trying to control his diabetes. At one point, Davis went to a rejuvenation clinic in Switzerland, where he got a shot of lamb serum.