Category: 50 Celebrities With Diabetes

Gary Hall Jr. was born in 1974 from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is an Olympic swimmer that has competed and won several medals. Hall has competed in the last three Olympic swimming competitions. He has won a total of 10 medals for his efforts. His family is accomplished in the Olympics as well. Several members of the family have won medals throughout the years. Hall has various American honors including the Humanitarian Award in 2004.

While in the mist of competing, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Even though, he needed some time to sort out this disease, Hall returned to compete again. His diabetes did not stop him from the 2000 Olympic Games and he broke an American record as well. Hall speaks out to young people faced with diabetes and allows them to know that their goals can be accomplished also.

Cynthia Ice is the designer and creator of Lotus software. She discovered the need for better software, a program that could better “read” the material on very dynamic websites. This program assists disabled people to search the web more efficiently and helps them purchase items that they need. Some people have a hard time leaving the home and finding products they need to survive. This is especially true for the blind and deaf.

Ice has lived with diabetes for over 20 years. She became blind from the disease. With growing problems and concerns trying to shop with her disability, she created a program to assist others with the internet.

Waylon Jennings was born in 1937 from Littlefield, Texas. He is an icon in the American country music industry. Jennings had a distinctive voice that everyone recognized. In his early career, he played bass for Buddy Holly. When the plane crashed that took several talented musicians Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Richie Valens, Jennings was booked on that plane ride. However, at the last minute, he gave his seat to The Big Bopper. Jennings may be remembered mostly for his work on the “Dukes of Hazard”. He was the voice of the announcer as well as sung the theme song. Jennings had several hit songs including “MacAuthur Park”, “Delia’s Gone” and “Just to Satisfy You”. Among his achievements, he has won various awards, including “Lifetime Achievement Award”, “Male Vocalist of the Year” and “Album of the Year”. Jennings was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001 and inducted to Hollywood’s Rockwall in 2006. Waylon Jennings died in 2002 from diabetes complications. He was 65 years old.

Jennings had several health problems through his life, as well as a cocaine addiction. He became sober in 1984, but other issues became apparent. Jennings had a heart attack as well as diagnosed with diabetes. The diabetes began because of a starving hunger that was brought on because of his addiction. The music sensation had to have his foot amputated because of the rising problems with his diabetes. Waylon Jennings went to sleep one night and never awoke again.

George C. Scott was an incredible dramatic performer. He was born in 1927, a native from Wise, Virginia. His original goal in life was to become a writer. Scott was in the Marines and when he was discharge he went to college for a little while. However, he become intrigued with drama and shortly thereafter left to pursue his dreams. Scott began on Broadway, and then became a motion picture star. Some of his most remember works include “Patton”, “They Might be Giants” and “The Hindenburg”. During his career he received several awards including the Academy Award for Best Actor. Yet Scott called the awards ceremony a “parade.” In 1971, when they expected him to come for his Oscar, he did not come forward to get the award. Scott did not appear for the show. George C. Scott died in 1999 of an abdominal aneurysm. He was 72 years old.

Jerry Garcia is most famous for his works with the Grateful Dead. He was an American music icon. Born Jerome John Garcia in 1942 from San Francisco, California, he took the world by storm. His band was recording and performing their songs for over three decades. Garcia is remembered for his works that include “I’ll Take a Melody”, “The Wheel” and “Might as Well”. His large base of fans called themselves “Deadheads.” Jerry Garcia rocked right up until the end; he died in 1995 of a heart attack. He was only 53 years old.

Garcia has had several health problems throughout his life. His weight and the drugs he used caused various issues. In 1986, Garcia fell into a diabetic coma. He did not awake until 5 days later. The coma left Garcia having to relearn more of the basic tasks during the day, including playing the guitar. Garcia shared with his fans some of his efforts to control his diabetes. In 1991, he hired a personal trainer. Even with the proper methods of controlling his health, he succumbed to a heart attack while he was at a rehab center for his heroin addiction.

Mary Tyler Moore has been an icon in the television world as well as a spokeswoman for diabetes. She was born in 1936, a native of Brooklyn, New York. Moore is most famous for her roles in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” as well as “The Dick Van Dyke Show”. She began her career at the tender age of 17. Moore got her start on television commercials that were played during the most popular sitcoms at the time. She has been in film as well as stage performances. Through her career, she has been honored with a statute and awards. She is still making appearances in TV and movies.

Moore, who has type 1 diabetes, spoke before a Congressional committee, on behalf of all diabetics. On June 24, 2003, she gave this testimony:”For most of you, blood sugar balance is as automatic as breathing. But for people with juvenile diabetes, like me, it requires vigilance 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.” She has done commercials and assists in opening peoples eye to the dangerous that diabetes can cause. While Moore is fighting for a cure for the diabetes disease, she has almost completely lost her sight as well as one of her limbs.

Kelli Kuehne is a famous golfer diagnosed with diabetes. She was born in 1977 from Dallas, Texas. The Kuehne family is full of famous golfers as well. Her two bothers activity plays the sport and wins tournaments. Kuehne has been a part of several championship matches including United States Girl’s Junior Amateur, United States Women’s Amateur and the British Ladies Amateur. She has won all three titles. Kuehne began the professional tour and finally won the LPGA Corning Classics in 1999.

A majority of athletes with diabetes have made public statements about their condition. Kuehne is one of those people. She has been dealing with diabetes since the early age of 10. On May 18, 2003, Kuehne said this: “My biggest goal in life is to help diabetic children understand that because they have the disease they need to take care of themselves, see a dietitian and get plenty of knowledge about the illness.”

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.