Category: Diabetes 101

Jerry Mathers is a TV and stage icon. He was born in 1948 and a native of Sioux City, Iowa. Mathers is best known for his portrayal of a young 1950s suburban boy. Everyone remembers the lovable yet mischievous Beaver Cleaver. Mathers began his acting career when he was just two years old. In his long list of achievements, he was the first actor to receive a percentage of product revenue from a television show. Mathers also had a short musical career where he recorded some songs with this band called Beaver and the Trappers.

Mathers learned in 1996 that he had diabetes. He then lost 45 pounds, and began to lecture about living with diabetes. Mathers understood the importance of the disease and wished to share his knowledge with others faced with diabetes. He became a spokesman for the Johnson and Johnson Company. They design glucose testing meters.

Joe Gibbs, the famous coach and mentor, guided his Washington Redskins to the Super Bowl in 1982, 1987 as well as 1991. This impressive record did not stop there. Gibbs also has 4 NFC championship titles under his belt as well. An exhausted Gibbs retired in 1992. He began to concentrate on his NASCAR racing team. This was the Joe Gibbs Racing that won an astonishing 3 championships. In 2004, Gibbs came out of retirement and again joined his Washington Redskin team. For a second time as the head coach as well as the president of the team. Again in 2008, he retired for good this time; however, Gibbs will still work towards the teams efforts as an adviser.

Gibbs began his life in 1940, from Mocksville, North Carolina. He has had an impressive career life. Nevertheless, after his first retirement in 1992, he found out that he was diabetic. This did not stop Gibbs from accomplishing his career goals. He promised his wife that he would take it easy as well as eat healthy and stay and a regular sleeping schedule. He has had an episode where his glucose levels were in danger. Gibbs made a hospital visit and the medical team gave him the required amount of insulin. He was able to leave the hospital that evening.

Lawrence Harvey Zeiger’s home town was Brooklyn, New York. He was born in 1933 and has had a fantastically active career. King’s first job in at a radio station was a bit of a snore. He was hired to perform small tasks as well as cleaning. This paid off as one of the regular hosts quit and King was put on the air in 1957 in Miami. With the death of his father at a young age, he never went to college. Even though, King had a run in with the law landing him in jail, he straightened his life out. Eventually, in 1985 he obtained his own TV talk show and has been on the air ever since.

Shortly after King began his TV program, he suffered a massive heart attack. This led to other medical problems as well. He had to undergo a quintuple bypass heart surgery. Before this life changing event, he was a heavy smoker. King would light up while interviewing his guests. Since his heart attack, he is a spokesman to halt smoking to prevent cardiovascular disease. King’s life-altering event was when he learned that he had diabetes. Since then, King has invited other celebrities to talk about diabetes on his daily show, an important part of CNN’s prime time line-up.

Johnny Cash is a household name. Even if the music genre was not a person’s style, they would still enjoy Johnny Cash. He was a legend in his own time. Cash was born in 1932 and originally from Kingsland, Arkansas. He was famous for his black suit attire. Even though, Cash has had trouble with the law many years during his life and landed in prison. He still sung songs of hope. This brought joy to many people. Some of his more inspired works include “I Walk the Line”, “Ring of Fire” and “A Boy Named Sue”. He died in 2003 from complications of diabetes. Cash was 71 years old.

Around 1997, Cash began experiencing health problems. He was having issues with autonomic neuropathy. This was a complication related to his diabetes. He was in and out of hospitals; this made Cash stop touring and focus on his family. His loving wife died a few months before he did. She made Cash promise to continue recording all the way to the end. Complications from diabetes have shortened the life of a number of celebrities. If Johnny Cash had not had diabetes, music lovers might have enjoyed his deep voice for a while longer.

Morgan Freeman has been admired through the ages. The native Memphis, Tennessee born actor entered the world in 1937. Freeman’s early life had its ups and downs. However, at the early age of 8 years old, he stole the show by playing the lead in a play at his school. When Freeman was 12, he won a state drama competition in Tennessee which led to his career. He has won various awards including Academy Award, Screen Actors Guild and Film Director. Other awards have been presented to Freeman, throughout the years as well. Some of his most celebrated films include “Driving Miss Daisy”, “The Shawshank Redemption” and “March of the Penguins”. The list of successful productions that he has been a part of go on and on.

Since Freeman has been diagnosed with diabetes, he has become a spokesman for several origination’s. He has written pamphlets, donated time as well as money, spoken at engagements and public service announcements. Morgan Freemen speaks out for diabetes and men’s health issues. He is one of the many celebrities that assist people in understanding juvenile diabetes and helping to find a cure.

Allen Wilford Brimley was born in 1934. He is native to Salt Lake City, Utah. Throughout his life, he has had some major accomplishments. Brimley was once a body guard for Howard Hughes. During the Korean conflict, he served in the United States Marine Corps. Brimley is most famous for his acting ability, however. His first job on a set was shoeing horses for 60s westerns. He is more notable for his works in “Cocoon”, the television show “Our House” and “The Firm”. Brimley is known for being an activist. He fights laws on the banning of cockfighting and horse-race gambling. Wilford Brimley is 74 years old.

Brimley having diabetes is a spokesman for the disease. He speaks out on the importance of checking glucose levels often and living a better life. Brimley appears in advertisements for Liberty Medical, a distributor of diabetes supplies.

Michael Lee Aday was born in 1947 as Marvin Lee Aday. He is a native of Dallas, Texas. His fans and the professional industry better knows Aday as Meat Loaf. He has had an impressive career in the musical industry as well as an actor. Between 1987 and 1991, Meat Loaf performed in 300 concerts. Then in the 1990s, Meatloaf began acting in movies. He has worked with Patrick Swayze, Dennis Quaid and Brad Pitt. Meat Loaf’s songs include “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”, “Bat out of Hell” and “I’d Do Anything for Love (but I Won’t Do That)”. His stage presences include “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, “Fight Club” and “Spice World”. Even though, his life has been rocky, Meat Loaf is a musical legend. He is 61 years old.

Meat Loaf has been diagnosed with diabetes for several years. He has been ill at a few of his concerts where he was forced to go on despite the way he felt. Meat Loaf has had other medical issues as well. He has been in a near fatal car accident, a shot put has hit him directly in the head and has been ill with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.

Minnie Pearl was enjoyed by millions for her performance from the Grand Ole Opry and the hit TV show, Hee Haw. Pearl was born Sarah Ophelia Colley in 1912. She is a native of Centerville, Tennessee. In that day, age and part of the country, her family was embarrassed that she chose a career as a comedian in show business. Pearl started out producing as well as directing plays in her small community. She was a comedic legend with a stage presence that could never be copied. Pearl took her audience to new levels and they enjoyed turning in to her where ever she was. Sadly, Minnie Pearl died in 1996 of a stroke. She was 84 years old.

Pearl had to deal with many health issues, in addition to diabetes. She conquered her battle with breast cancer, but she lost her battle with stroke. When Pearl won her long fight against breast cancer, she began speaking out in favor of the Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. A cancer foundation was founded in her name and inspiration.

Mick Fleetwood was born Michael John Kells Fleetwood in 1947. He is a native of Redruth, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Fleetwood was one of the founding members of the band Fleetwood Mac. He had a rough childhood which led him to drop out of school at the young age of 15. Fleetwood decided then that he would go to London to become a drummer. His career had several levels, including various bands and small TV and film rolls. He will always be remembered for his Fleetwood Mac performances. In November of 2002, Fleetwood became a U.S. citizen. Mick Fleetwood is 61 years old.

Fleetwood has had several bouts of hypoglycemia while drumming for Fleetwood Mac. In 1979, doctors told him that he had diabetes. When Fleetwood was diagnosed, he did not know what was happening. Finally he received the news that he had a mild case of diabetes. With diet and exercise he was able to keep it under control.

Tommy Lee was born Tommy Lee Bass in 1962. He is a native of Athens, Greece. However, shortly after he was born the family moved to California. Lee’s father is of Welsh American and his mother is of Greek descent. Lee is most famous for being the drummer of the 80’s heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. He has been married to Pamela Anderson as well as Heather Locklear.

Lee has been in trouble with the law on a few occasions and is considered a bad boy or the heavy metal industry. In addition to Mötley Crüe, Lee has formed other bands as well. The one that lee is presently with is called Electro Mayhem. Tommy Lee is 46 years old.