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 Speaks Out On His Diabetes Diagnosis
Photo: Singer and actor Nick Jonas. Source: Energy 106 According to a report released by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), there are about 30.0 million people or 9.4% of the total U.S. population who are suffering from diabetes, with 23.8% of them undiagnosed. With these statistics, it is no surprise that celebrities are also diagnosed with diabetes. Well-known for his music with the Jonas Brothers, his solo hits, and his roles in Camp Rock, Kingdom, Scream Queens, and the upcoming remake of Jumanji, Nick Jonas went public with his diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in 2007. In a recent interview, he expressed how he felt after a decade of managing it, highlighting the points that make managing diabetes not entirely easy. Like many others, he faced the ups and downs. What Nick Jonas felt when he was first diagnosed Upon knowing that he had type I diabetes at just 13, he felt terrified, especially since it was when the Jonas Brothers were at the peak of their fame. The diagnosis left him heartbroken, as his immediate thought was how it could very well not only his career, but his brothers' career in the music industry. At this age, he didn't know anything about diabetes, much less about managing it. The first thing he did was read and learn all he can, searching the news and finding articles about sugar and carbohydrate intake and their effects on his his body. He was truly concerned about his future and thought that diabetes would put a stop to his career. But, he wasn't going to let that happen. He had his own insulin pump and checked his blood sugar frequently, doing all that he can to get to know his body. Living life with diabetes after a decade of discovering it Nick Jonas best describes the past decade of his life with diabetes as a journey. He has l Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetic Nick Jonas Meets Vancouver Kids Living With Disease
Pop star Nick Jonas – who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 13 – took time out of his busy tour schedule this week to meet with several young members of Vancouver’s diabetic community, as part of his ongoing advocacy work to raise awareness about the disease. “It’s really great,” said Jonas Wednesday during the Vancouver stop of his Future Now co-headlining tour with Demi Lovato at Rogers Arena. “It’s interesting to meet other diabetics – it’s kind of about speaking the same language, in a way. There are certain diabetic jokes and lingo that only people who, I feel, are truly in the mix – family members, friends, diabetics themselves – only they really know that lingo, so it’s nice in that sense.” The 23-year-old performer is perhaps most well known for being a member of Disney’s mouse machine pop brigade, performing alongside brothers Joe and Kevin as the Jonas Brothers from 2005 to 2013 before the group disbanded. Following that, Jonas transitioned into a Justin Timberlake-esque solo career, returning with a sexier, slicker pop-R&B sound. His latest album, Last Year Was Complicated, was released in June. Jonas was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) a decade ago and since then has been vocal about not letting the disease hinder his ability to pursue his career. In early 2015, Jonas also co-founded Beyond Type 1, an advocacy group that aims to raise awareness about diabetes, fundraises for a possible cure, and encourages those with diabetes not only to live, but to thrive. For each of the Canadian stops of his 2016 summer tour, Jonas, Beyond Type 1, and Sun Life Financial have been hosting meet-and-greets with local diabetics, in an effort to build a community of support for those living with the disease. When Jonas was dia Continue reading >>
'this Is Not Cool': Nick Jonas Hits Out At Crossfit Tweet Saying It Fails To Show Difference Between Types Of Diabetes
He has been an outspoken advocate for diabetes for many years after dealing with the disease himself. And on Tuesday Nick Jonas hit out at Crossfit after the company posted what he felt was a misleading Tweet on their account. The singer, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 14 years old was vocal about his disapproval of a message. Scroll down for video The fitness company Tweeted a fake Coca-Cola ad that read: 'Open Diabetes', along with the caption 'Make sure you pour some out for your dead homies'. The 22-year-old took to his own account to slam what he felt was an ignorant way of discussing the condition as it did not make the differentiation between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes 'This is not cool. Please know and understand the difference between type one and type diabetes before making ignorant comments. 'Sensitivity to all diseases, and proper education on the cause and day to day battle is important' he Tweeted. The company retaliated saying the singer had misunderstood they did not 'grasp the difference' between the two different types of the illness. Nick was diagnosed with the type 1 of the disease in November 2005. He told Diabetes Health he began to notice the symptoms: 'losing weight, the bad attitude, being thirsty, going to the bathroom all the time.' Nick said he lost around 15lbs in two to three weeks: '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.' He took some time off and when he saw a doctor he was told his blood sugar was over 700. Nick's type of diabetes is usually diagnosed in children. It is a chronic condition in where the pancreas produce Continue reading >>
Nick Jonas Talks Diabetes, Miley Cyrus And His Ideal Woman For Huffpost’s #nofilter
AP These days, our knowledge of celebrities too often originates with paparazzi images and snarky quotes by anonymous “insiders.” After a while, it’s easy to forget that stars are real people. That’s why HuffPost Celebrity decided to launch its all-new #nofilter quick-fire question-and-answer series. Because how well do you know someone until they’ve shared their guiltiest pleasures? Nick Jonas may only be 20, but he’s already taken the music world by storm. Although he started out as a solo artist, Nick catapulted into success when he joined forces with his siblings Kevin and Joe to form the boy band the Jonas Brothers. Nick experimented with his solo career again in 2010 before reuniting with his brothers in 2013 for a cross-country tour, which wraps tomorrow (Aug. 16) in Universal City, Calif. But what makes Nick’s story even more inspirational is that he lives with Type 1 diabetes. The singer, who turns 21 next month, recently received the ACUVUE® Inspire Award at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards on Aug. 11, being recognized for his tireless efforts to educate teens and young adults about the disease, which he was diagnosed with at age 13. HuffPost Celebrity chatted with Nick about his struggle with diabetes, that now infamous shirtless selfie and how he feels about his ex-girlfriend Miley Cyrus’ transformation. How did it feel to win the ACUVUE® Inspire Award at the TCAs on Sunday? I was really honored to win that award. You know, it’s bizarre for me to receive an award for something that I deal with every day that sort of complicates life, but I was so happy to be able to speak about my story and hopefully give some encouragement and inspiration to other people, and that’s my main focus. I am so blessed to receive that award. What do you feel you 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 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 >>
Dexcom And Nick Jonas Raise Their Voices For Diabetes Awareness
Jonas, Who Has Type 1 Diabetes, Sings Praises for the Life-Changing Impact of Continuous Glucose Monitoring. Dexcom, Inc, a leader in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for patients with diabetes, announced today it has partnered with multi-talented recording artist and actor, Nick Jonas, who has type 1 diabetes, to raise awareness of the benefits of CGM for people with diabetes. Jonas will share his personal story and views on living with diabetes and his use of Dexcom technology to help him monitor his glucose levels and manage his diabetes while he pursues and lives his dream. With approximately 29.1 million Americans living with diabetes, education on disease management is crucial to living with the condition day-to-day.1 The growth of continuous glucose monitoring systems, like the Dexcom G4® PLATINUM, has helped patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes understand valuable information about their glucose levels and trends, a key aspect to controlling the disease and staying healthy. “When I was first diagnosed, I was scared that I would no longer be able to do what I love but I made a commitment to take control of my diabetes and not let it slow me down", said Nick Jonas. "The Dexcom CGM is an amazing step forward in the battle against diabetes and gives me the tools and confidence I need to feel in control so I can continue to follow my dreams.” Jonas was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 13 while on tour with his brothers. Rapid weight loss, fatigue and other symptoms led to a quick diagnosis of type 1 diabetes but Jonas was determined not to let it stand in the way of achieving his dreams. In collaborating with Dexcom, he hopes to spread awareness for CGM and provide encouragement for those impacted by diabetes to take control of the diseas 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 >>
Celebrities With Type 1 Diabetes
1 / 14 Type 1 diabetes is a condition where the body doesn't produce insulin, the hormone that converts glucose into energy. The condition affects about 3 million people in the United States alone, and everyone with type 1 diabetes — including celebrities — must replace their insulin every day. So, every time you take the steps needed to monitor your condition, remember that you’re in some pretty famous company. 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 >>
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 >>
Celebrities With Diabetes
Diabetes both Type 1 and Type 2 affects millions of people worldwide, so it’s not surprising to discover that even celebrities and their families are affected as well. Having diabetes is stressful and challenging enough to deal with so finding a light every now and then helps to make this process a lot more manageable. You might not even realize that you are now a member of an exclusive community alongside many famous names and faces. Let’s take a look at the celebrities who also are living a life with diabetes. Mary Tyler Moore Mary Tyler More, best known for her roles on The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 33. Since this time, she has used her success and status in the celebrity community as a platform to raise awareness about a commonly confusing condition. She has become the international chairwoman for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), and even released a book titled Growing Up Again where she discusses her new life with diabetes. On January 25, 2017, the diabetes community lost a wonderful woman and amazing advocate when Mary Tyler Moore passed away at the age of 80 years old. I recommend the following articles: Jean Smart Jean Smart got her breakthrough career role on hugely successful television show, Designing Women in 1986. Since this time, she has been in many TV shoes, movies and even plays. While she has a successful acting career, it is not commonly known that she is also a mentor and activist for those with Type 1 diabetes. Jean was diagnosed with Type 1 when she was only 13 years old. Bret Michaels One of the more popular figures in the diabetes community, Bret Michaels is known best for being the lead singer of the band Poison and his reality TV show called Rock of Love. H Continue reading >>
Nick Jonas, A Rockin’ Role Model With Diabetes
Editor’s Note: This article came out in one of the previous issues of our magazines and the information has not been updated. Since Nick Jonas received a diagnosis for Type 1 diabetes at age 13, he supports diabetes advocacy and awareness for young adults. He uses his success to educate his fans and help raise funds to find a cure. On August 11, 2013, Nick attended the annual Teen Choice Awards and won the ACUVUE® Inspire Award for his continuous support and efforts to help young adults and teens learn about Type 1 diabetes. He launched the 2013 Jonas Brothers summer tour with an event to raise funds for the American Diabetes Association. In just recent years, Nick Jonas began the Change for the Children Foundation, and partners with five charities total, as well as developing a public service announcement (PSA) to support the Children National Medical Center. WHO IS NICK? Sixteen-year-old Nick Jonas and his brothers Kevin and Joe make up the Jonas Brothers band. They are one of the most popular musical groups in the world today. Nick has type 1 diabetes, and he uses his music to help him express his feelings about diabetes and to reach other people with diabetes who may be experiencing the same thoughts and emotions. The title track of the Jonas Brothers’ album, “A Little Bit Longer,” was written by Nick on a day when he was feeling down because his blood glucose levels were not under control. When Nick found out that he had diabetes, he was shocked. But he has decided to use his optimistic outlook to reach others and to inspire them to live rich and exciting lives—even with diabetes. He said, “When I first got diagnosed, one of the things I said was, ‘Why me?! Why is this happening to me?’ But once I started to see that I could use this as an opportun Continue reading >>
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 >>
