Celebrity Q+a: Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas, the youngest member of the Jonas Brothers band, is used to selling out arenas, making tween and teen girls scream, and battling type 1 diabetes. Here he reveals what it's like living with the all-too-common disease. November isn't only National Diabetes Month—it also marks the fifth anniversary of finding out you have type 1 diabetes. How did that happen?A. When I was 13 and on tour with my brothers, I lost 15 pounds in two weeks and was thirsty all the time. I also had a bad attitude—which was rare for me. My parents took me to a doctor, and we learned that my blood sugar was dangerously high. I was rushed to a hospital, where they made the diagnosis. Q. What was your reaction? A. At first I was afraid. I didn't know if I was going to die. But once I realized the disease can be managed, I started to feel better. Q. Has your family helped you? A. Most definitely. There was one time on tour when I couldn't get my blood sugar in check, and I had a bit of a breakdown. But my brothers and my mom were there to calm me down and offer words of encouragement. They're always there for me. Q. You've spoken to the Senate about giving more government funding to diabetes research. Your charity, Change for Children Foundation, has raised money for the cause. And you've even written songs about the disease, like "A Little Bit Longer." Why'd you share your story with the public? A. Getting diabetes gave me an opportunity to inspire people who may be feeling the way I felt when I first got diagnosed—unsure and alone. I want adults and kids to know that there are new tools that make living with the disease easier than ever. For example, I love using Bayer's USB contour meter. It tracks my blood sugar for me and plugs into my computer, so right away I can send my numbers Continue reading >>
Nick Jonas Opens Up About Diabetes: I Thought I Was Going To Die
Nick Jonas Opens Up About Diabetes: I Thought I Was Going to Die Nick Jonas found out he had type 1 diabetes when he was just 13 years old. Now the 22-year-old artist is opening up to ETonline about just how fearful he felt when he first learned about the disease and how he changed that feeling into something positive. "When I was first diagnosed, I didn't really know a lot about the disease," he admits. "So I was actually thinking I was going to die." At the time, the Jonas Brothers were on the verge of a massive music career, and "to have this thing interrupt it was heartbreaking," Nick explains. WATCH: Nick Jonas Opens Up About His Split With Olivia Culpo But Nick learned how to "deal with it all" and calls managing his health "a day to day learning experience." In fact, he credits having the right tools and people in his life for helping him. He uses Dexcom CGM , a glucose monitor, that gives him a reading every five minutes. "[It] feels like you have a friend looking out for you," he shares. And you could say he doesn't feel like he's in "Chains" because of the disease. "I'm in the best health I've been in, and I'm feeling really good about, not only my own life with Diabetes and having tools I can manage it with, but also about the message that I have, which is to try to be an encouragement." NEWS: Nick Jonas Joins Fox's 'Scream Queens' For others who are dealing with challenges, Nick has words of hope. "Look, we all have moments that are tough, and there's support there," he says. Check out the video above to see how Nick did not let his diagnosis stand in the way of his dreams . Continue reading >>
Nick Jonas On Flying The Diabetes Flag High!
Singer, songwriter, actor Nick Jonas, 23, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 10 years ago. As a fellow type 1 myself, and a regular blogger for OnTrack Diabetes, I was thrilled when I got the call about the chance to interview Jonas! He's been my dia-crush (person with diabetes who has a crush on another diabetic) ever since I heard him croon with his brothers. Even cooler in my mind (other then his global superstar status) is that he's down-to-earth and actually cares about raising diabetes awareness. So how does he hope his non-profit, Beyond Type 1, will help people with diabetes? What does he look for in a 'type 3'? What's the nicest thing someone has done for him to support his diabetes? Read my exclusive interview with this bright star (and dia-badass!) to find out. Tell me about your type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Ten years ago when I was 13 and touring with my brothers, I noticed a dramatic change in my body and my mood. I’ve always been a very upbeat person, but suddenly, I was irritable all the time. I was constantly thirsty and always needing to use the bathroom. I also started losing weight rapidly—20 pounds in two weeks! Something was very wrong. I felt sluggish, drained, like a balloon losing air. I was struggling to get through my tour and finally decided to make an appointment to meet with my doctor. She ordered several tests, including my blood glucose. My level had spiraled out of control to over 800—I was immediately rushed to the hospital. It was absolutely terrifying. The doctors told me I had type 1 diabetes. How did you initially handle the news? It was truly one of the most frightening moments of my life. I was shocked at first. And my family was just as panicked. But the real scare was I had to quickly learn so much. It was completely overwhel Continue reading >>
Celebrities With Diabetes Slideshow
The Oscar-winning actor announced he has type 2 diabetes when late-night host David Letterman commented on his newly slim figure in October 2013. "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.'" Hanks added that the condition is controllable, but he joked that he couldn't get back down to his high-school weight of 96 pounds. "I was a very skinny boy!" The talk show host has type 2 diabetes. "It's definitely controllable," King has said on his show. Diabetes makes heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and other serious health problems more likely. King has had bypass heart surgery. Diabetes wasn't the only thing that raised his risk for ticker trouble: King had been a heavy smoker, and smoking hurts the heart. But by taking care of his diabetes (and quitting smoking), King helps his ticker and the rest of his body. Salma Hayek The Oscar-nominee had gestational diabetes, which happens during pregnancy, while expecting her daughter, Valentina. Hayek has a family history of diabetes. Experts say all women should get checked for gestational diabetes when they are 24-28 weeks pregnant. Those at risk for type 2 diabetes are checked at their first prenatal visit. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after delivery, but it could return with a later pregnancy. It can also make you more likely to get type 2 diabetes later on. This singer went public with his type 1 diabetes in 2007. He has said that his symptoms included weight loss and thirst. When diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, his blood sugar was over 700 -- and normal blood sugar levels are from 70 to 120. Jonas was hospitalized, but he learned to manage his condition. Once called Continue reading >>
Nick Jonas Talks His First Decade With Diabetes, And Partnering With Dexcom
Nick Jonas is no longer the teenage boy band star with a squeaky clean image. Enter th e new Nick, now in his early 20s with a grittier edge, and a lot is changing for him and his fans. In the past year or so, Nick's branched out on his own as an artist, added more adult-oriented TV and movie appearances to his acting resume, and just recently announced he's partnering with singer friend Demi Lovato to start a new record label called Safehouse Recordings. Not to mention that the 22-year-old is of course one of us PWDs (people with diabetes), who's been living with type 1 for almost a decade now since age 13. Our own AmyT first chatted with Nick back in 2007 and then again five years ago, delving into his then budding music career and how he hoped to use his voice to advocate and serve as a role model for the diabetes community. Fast forward to 2015: Nick recently announced that he's become a Dexcom Warrior (a group of exemplary users of the leading continuous glucose monitoring product) and that he's collaborating with the California CGM company on a public awareness campaign about his own D-story and the advantages of using the Dexcom G4. You have to admit that this polished video spot they created with Nick is pretty cool, right?! And those of us who use the Dexcom G4 can relate to his statement that "Having a CGM is like having a best friend that always looks out for you." We were thrilled to have had another chance to talk with Nick late last week, to hear about all he's up to... DM) Nick, first off, how are you feeling about being a decade into living with diabetes? NJ) It's been a journey, for sure. The biggest thing has been the learning curve and taking the time to go through the process, the steps toward trying to live a healthy life and not get overwhelmed by Continue reading >>
Nick Jonas On Diabetes: 'it Has An Effect On My Creative Life'
At 13 years old, Nick Jonas was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. A member of a boy band at the time, Jonas immediately started using his fame to shine a light on the disease. Most notably, the Jonas Brothers’ 2008 song “A Little Bit Longer” touches on his years of struggling with the disease, and empowers those diagnosed with diabetes not to feel defeated. “‘A Little Bit Longer’ was a song I was really happy to write,” Jonas, now 22, tells EW. “Probably in a lot of ways, it’s been therapeutic for me.” And even though he’s on his own now, Jonas says his fight with diabetes continues to inspire his music. “It’s really shaped who I am as a person,” the “Jealous” singer says. “It has an effect on my creative life, the way I approach writing songs and doing all that.” While sharing his struggles with diabetes publicly was a risk, Jonas has become a role model to young fans who suffer similarly. And the fans have become a source of strength for Jonas. “I’ve heard from a lot of fans over time that have actually encouraged me and lifted me up in moments when I was feeling down about it,” Jonas says. “That’s the beauty of building a community and trying to be transparent about something—you find strength in numbers, the people who lift you up when you need it. “I didn’t know that sharing my story could help people, and it did.” Not only does his journey empower others, but Jonas recently had the opportunity to help a young fan in need. “I was recently on a golf course by myself and this kid and his little brother came up, they were probably 10 and 12,” he recalls. “The kid was freaking out about something, trying to call his parents and I had a gut feeling it had something to do with diabetes. I asked what was going on, Continue reading >>
Nick Jonas Talks Life On Stage And Off With Type 1 Diabetes
Entertainment superstar Nick Jonas is a hit singer, songwriter, producer, and actor. He's also one of the approximately 1.25 million Americans living with type 1 diabetes. Jonas, now 24, was diagnosed at age 13 and has emerged as a leading voice in raising awareness about the disease. In 2015, he helped found Beyond Type 1 , a philanthropy that aims to empower people with type 1 diabetes "to both live well today and to fund a better tomorrow." NIH MedlinePlus magazine interviewed him about his experience with type 1 diabetes and his message for others with the disease. Would you share the circumstances of your type 1 diabetes diagnosis? What were your initial thoughts? My thoughts when I was diagnosed were real concern for my future, first of all as a performer, and also not knowing anything about the disease. I think I was initially just thinking that it was going to limit my ability to follow my dreams. "Know that you can still do anything you want to do with your life." How do you manage your type 1 diabetes? Do you use an insulin pump? I use an insulin pump to help manage my diabetes, check my blood sugar frequently, and do my best to get to know my body and get to feel out if I am high or low. More than anything, it's trusting my doctor and following all of her advice. You lead a very active and busy life with your type 1 diabetes. What do you do to manage your diet and exercise? I choose to live a pretty healthy life as far as my eating habits go. But I love physical exercise and pushing my body. I think it's just about being honest and vocal with the people who you are working with, or trainers and friends who you might be training with, about the disease and how to take care of situations should they arise. How has your family supported you in all this? My famil Continue reading >>
Nick Jonas - Diabetes Celebrity
Tweet The youngest of the Jonas Brothers, Nick, a type 1 diabetic, has used his sudden explosion into the music and movie industry to promote himself as a potential future president of the United States and as a representative for young people with diabetes. Diabetes talks He has conducted a number of talks about how he has coped with diabetes as a young adolescent and how he plans to support and represent future diabetes research. Most recently he has become a diabetes ambassador for Bayer Diabetes Care, in addition to this he as written a book named ‘A Little Bit Longer’ in an attempt to inspire young diabetics to live their lives to the fullest. With the help of his brothers he has founded ‘The Change for the Children Foundation’ and has reportedly given $750,000 to diabetes research and treatment. Charity events Nick Jonas has the goal of helping children with diabetes, and has set up the Jonas Brothers Change for the Children Foundation. To celebrate the partnership with Bayer Diabetes Care, the company made a donation to the foundation. Nick, 17, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 13. He is passionate about sharing his story with other young people with diabetes, because he knows how the condition can cause isolation and even embarrassment. Nick is taking what he’s learned about diabetes, and passing it on to other people with diabetes. Nick was reported in diabetes news as commenting: “So many fans with diabetes from all over share their stories and thank me for being an inspiration to them. Nearly every day I hear from someone like me who says that I make them feel it’s OK to have diabetes and it’s really cool that I can do that. I know I’m lucky because I have a family that encourages me a lot. I want to give that same inspiratio Continue reading >>
Getting To Know You: Nick Jonas
Recording artist Nick Jonas, 22, formerly part of teen sensations The Jonas Brothers, has become a serious solo performer in his own right. His singing, acting, and touring career has taken off, all while he has successfully managed his Type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed at 13 while on tour, he quickly adopted a positive attitude and commitment to managing his disease and not letting it derail the pursuit of his dreams. Three years ago, Nick started using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Now, he has partnered with Dexcom, Inc., a maker of CGM technology, to raise awareness of the benefits of CGMs. In addition, Nick is a co-founder of BEYOND TYPE 1, a new nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the conversation around diabetes. BEYOND TYPE 1 aims to be provocative, inclusive, and disruptive, building a community to combat an isolating and confusing disease and help eradicate the stigma of living with a chronic illness. BEYOND TYPE 1 plans collaborations, special events, and use of technology and social media to educate, raise awareness, and raise funds for research to find a cure. According to Nick, the group will create a community for diabetics where they can share real-life stories about how they are living beyond Type 1 diabetes and how it has not slowed them down. “We have a long way to go in the education of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes,” he says, “and in that lack of knowledge is the even harsher reality that we are still very far from a cure.” DSM: How has living with Type 1 diabetes changed for you over the last nine years? NJ: Mostly in my responsibilities, my taking ownership of it. From day one, I wanted to take care of myself and not rely on other people. Being diagnosed was definitely one of the most frightening moments of my life. I was 13…I s Continue reading >>
An Inside Look At Living With Type 1 Diabetes With Nick Jonas
by Esther Wu Twitter Summary: @nickjonas talks to the #DOC about living w/ #T1D, we round up his inspiring quotes Singer, songwriter, and actor Nick Jonas, who has had type 1 diabetes since he was 13, recently announced a partnership with Dexcom, Inc., to raise awareness of the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for people with diabetes. Last week, our team had the opportunity to attend an interview with Nick and members of the diabetes online community to learn more about this partnership and how diabetes has impacted his life. Enclosed below are some “quotable quotes” from the call, including his message to young children who have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, how his CGM has affected his lifestyle, and how advocacy fits in with his career. “From day one, I was pretty adamant about taking care of it [my diabetes] myself without relying on other people, so one of the biggest changes [has been] giving up my control of that. I’ve got great family and great friends that want to help me and make my life easier; there’s a lot of growth in saying ‘that’s okay.’” “I know that there are people who are always a little concerned to take steps forward. It’s easier and more comfortable to sit with what you know and what’s comfortable for you, and so stepping out of that box can be difficult. But in my case the results were incredible: my A1c is the best it’s been and I feel the best I’ve been…I began using CGM about three years ago, and it’s just simplifying my life.” “The thing that drives me in a lot of ways is being able to help other people, talking about the real life challenges of this disease and ways to approach it to make it easier. I want to build a community that is open to talking about diabetes…I didn’t know Continue reading >>
Nick Jonas Opened Up About Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis
Nick Jonas has been a longtime advocate for diabetes awareness, and the singer and actor opened up about living with Type 1 diabetes in a red-carpet interview Sunday night at the Radio Disney Music Awards. Nick was being honored at the event with the Hero Award for his philanthropic work on behalf of Type 1 diabetes. He appeared onstage to receive the award from Jumanji costar Jack Black, and delivered an emotional speech while surrounded by a group of children living with diabetes. He spoke candidly about the moment he was diagnosed in 2005, when he was 13 years old, as Entertainment Tonight reports. "It was a moment in my life when I was just getting ready to start making music with my brothers, and touring, and it was something I thought would slow me down before I even got started," he explained. Despite his initial reaction, he went on to confirm that he is in a much better place now than he was 12 years ago, both physically and mentally. “[I’m] in the healthiest place I’ve been since my diagnosis,” he said. “What I saw as the biggest challenge of my life really did become the biggest opportunity to bring some encouragement to people.” “I started thinking about who some of my heroes are,” Nick added of how he felt when he discovered he’d be receiving the award. “Not the kind of heroes who wear capes and save cities from evil villains, but real people who are heroes because they’ve changed the world in some way and made it a better place, or people who directly impacted my life.” He went on to thank his “amazing family,” giving a special shout-out to his father, whom he considers his “hero every single day,” before finishing with an important message: “We all have the power to change the world and make it a better place,” he said Continue reading >>
Singer Nick Jonas Draws A Crowd For Diabetes Discussion
Nick Jonas admitted to being scared in 2005 when he learned the reason for his weight loss, irritability and constant thirst was Type 1 diabetes. “I was nervous and I didn’t know if it would all end right there,” says Jonas, who was only 13 at that time and gaining fame on tour with his siblings, the Jonas Brothers. “I had to do what I had to do to keep going.” Rolling with it With help from friends and family, Jonas figured out how to adapt to T1D, an autoimmune disease affecting at least 1.25 million Americans. That wasn’t easy at first, especially for Jonas, a self-described independent person who had to learn to rely on others to make sure he stayed healthy and his insulin in check. “My go-to advice is to just trust in your family and friends,” he adds. One of Jonas’ biggest obstacles upon his diagnoses was understanding his body and learning how to stay healthy, especially with a hectic schedule. He counts on a continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump to stay on top of his condition. “These are life changing tools that I literally and figuratively keep in my back pocket,” he says of the devices, which simplify his disease management. BREAKING THE CHAINS: Put in perspective “We all go through something that makes our life challenging,” adds Jonas. “We need to look at it in a different way. My diabetes has definitely made me stronger. It’s a big contributor to my character as a person.” Jonas has become a source of inspiration for others, most recently through the creation of Beyond Type 1, a non-profit organization focused on raising awareness and changing the public dialogue to emphasize empowerment and strength. He especially wants to reach kids who, much like himself, need to know they are not alone. Beyond building a community Continue reading >>
Type 1 Pop Star, Nick Jonas Tells His Story
Nick Jonas is a personable boy of fourteen who happens to be a member of the Jonas Brothers Band, a group of three brothers with a devoted following of very passionate young fans. In November 2005, Nick Jonas found out that he had type 1 diabetes. A month or two before he was diagnosed, he began to notice “the usual symptoms: losing weight, the bad attitude, being thirsty, going to the bathroom all the time.” He lost about fifteen pounds in two to three weeks, and “it was just insane. I had a terrible attitude, which was totally odd for me because I’m actually a nice person. Especially being on the road around people all the time, you have to keep that positive energy going. And it was hard.” Nick took some time off from the band’s tour to see a doctor, who packed him off to the hospital immediately when she heard his symptoms. His blood sugar was over 700. “For someone who had no bad medical history ever,” he says, “to suddenly have the shock of diabetes was a bit overwhelming in itself, and then I had to learn all about it, learn all these things in such a short period of time. All of it was crazy. I also wondered if I could continue making music…but I had the support of my friends and the band to be there with me. My dad was back at home with my three other brothers, but my mom stayed at the hospital with me every night.” The day after Nick left the hospital, he performed in a concert and jumped right back into the flow of doing shows and touring. He started out taking multiple daily injections of NovoLog with Lantus, checking his blood sugar about twelve times a day. He says, “When we were on the road, I’d be in the back of the band trying to give insulin shots and manage my diabetes, and it was just too hard. I was getting frustrated with Continue reading >>
People To Know 2015: Nick Jonas
Gone is the floppy-haired tween idol whose adorkable smile graced the bedroom walls of girls across the country. In his place is the beefed-up solo star whose flirty pout well, graces the bedroom walls of girls across the country. He sings, though not with his brothers and not about pom-poms. He acts, though not in Disney song-and-dance flicks. Hes 23 and ready to be taken seriously. It was a calculated effort. With the lifespan of boy bands so short and successful solo careers so few and far between, Nick worked hard to set himself up for a serious career as a solo artist and actor. A year after the Jonas Brothersthe band Nick and his two brothers formed in 2005called it quits, Nick got our attention with a one-two punch. The first episode of DirecTVs gritty mixed martial arts drama Kingdom aired in October 2014, featuring the bulked-up former tween idol and proving he had serious acting chops. That same month, Jonas recreated Mark Wahlbergs iconic Calvin Klein photo shoot for Flaunt magazine, erasing all memory of his squeaky-clean days. He followed that up a month later with a solo album, Nick Jonas. His single, Jealous, hit No. 7 on Billboards Hot 100 chart. It definitely feels like a new chapter, he says. This past year and a half has been so exciting. To be acting, creating songs that really connect with peopleits what you dream of. His recent success is the result of hard work. To play MMA fighter Nate Kulina, Nick put on 12 to 15 pounds of musclea daunting task for anyone, never mind a guy with type 1 diabetes. He transformed his body with a diet of lean protein and minimal carbs plus constant workoutsa mix of strength training and learning to fight. It definitely felt like a turning point to push myself in that way, going to that place physically, he says. Itr Continue reading >>
Superstar Nick Jonas Shares His Hidden Life With Diabetes (interview)
Nick Jonas was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on November 16, 2005. He now needs insulin every day in order to survive. Just a few weeks later, the debut single from the first Jonas Brothers album reached #4 on the music charts, propelling him down the path to international super-stardom. As Nick approached the 10-year anniversary of his diagnosis (often referred to as a “diaversary” in the diabetes community), I spoke with him about the challenges he faces juggling the invisible demands of type 1 diabetes in the spotlight. I’m trying to imagine what that’s like: You’re 13 years old, you’re a teenager, you want to be independent. Then all of a sudden you have so many things that are happening around you: fame and a very high-maintenance chronic illness. Just facing a diabetes diagnosis on its own is overwhelming. When you add transitioning into life as a celebrity, how did diabetes fit into that experience? Nick: Within the first six months of my diagnosis, I got a pretty good grip on how to manage it on a day-to-day level. And with the understanding that this is going to take time. There was a little bit of time before I was outspoken about it. But my goal was really to not let it slow me down, knowing how much on the career front that I wanted to accomplish. It’s just about learning as quickly as I could how to manage my diabetes so I could make the most impact. On top of my voice changing and so much happening with the band, I was learning how many carbohydrates were in things and how much insulin to take with certain things. Everyone’s journey with diabetes is very different. It took time to learn about my body and how it would react. Thankfully, I had a great doctor who helped me very much. How do you approach your diaversiaries? A chance to celebra Continue reading >>
