Diabetes - What it is And Whos Got Them

Diabetes is one of the most widespread diseases on the world today. Its so common, even our beloved celebrities are not spared from this sickness.

The blue ring above is now the international symbol of diabetes much like the red ribbon is to aids. It has not been internationally accepted just yet because it lacks the media exposure to enable awareness and understanding about the disease. So, this post is in contribution to the efforts of everyone involved.

Some Quick Facts About Diabetes:
Diabetes mellitus, often simply diabetes, is a syndrome characterized by disordered metabolism and inappropriately high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) resulting from either low levels of the hormone insulin or from abnormal resistance to insulin's effects coupled with inadequate levels of insulin secretion to compensate.The characteristic symptoms are excessive urine production (polyuria), excessive thirst and increased fluid intake (polydipsia), and blurred vision; these symptoms may be absent if the blood sugar is mildly elevated.


The World Health Organization recognizes three main forms of diabetes mellitus: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (occurring during pregnancy), which have similar signs, symptoms, and consequences, but different causes and population distributions. Ultimately, all forms are due to the beta cells of the pancreas being unable to produce sufficient insulin to prevent hyperglycemia. Type 1 diabetes is usually due to autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells, which produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance in target tissues, but some impairment of beta cell function is necessary for its development. Gestational diabetes is similar to type 2 diabetes, in that it involves insulin resistance; the hormones of pregnancy can cause insulin resistance in women genetically predisposed to developing this condition.

Gestational diabetes typically resolves with delivery of the child, however types 1 and 2 diabetes are chronic conditions.All types have been treatable since insulin became medically available in 1921. Type 1 diabetes, in which insulin is not secreted by the pancreas, is directly treatable only with injected or inhaled insulin, although dietary and other lifestyle adjustments are part of management. Type 2 may be managed with a combination of dietary treatment, tablets and injections and, frequently, insulin supplementation. While insulin was originally produced from natural sources such as porcine pancreas, most insulin used today is produced through genetic engineering, either as a direct copy of human insulin, or human insulin with modified molecules that provide different onset and duration of action. Insulin can also be delivered continuously by a pump surgically embedded under the skin. Source : Wikipedia

Celebrities and Famous People Sick with Diabetes.
This one i got from diabeteshealth and i think this is the most comprehensive and complete list there is. So, original credit goes to them.

Actors/Directors

• Jack Benny, ’50s television host
• Halle Berry, actress who recently appeared in “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge”
• Wilford Brimley, of television and films, “Cocoon” and “The Firm”
• Delta Burke, of television’s “Designing Women”
• Halle Berry, Hollywood Actress
• Elvis Prestley, C'mon, who doesnt know him?
  
• James Cagney, producer, director and actor
• Nell Carter, of the television show “Gimme a Break”
• Dale Evans, actress, singer and wife of Roy Rogers
• Stephen Furst, actor on the television shows “St. Elsewhere” and “Babylon 5”
• Jackie Gleason, funny star of “The Honeymooners”
• Gordon Jump, actor on “WKRP in Cincinnati”
• Mabel King, actress who played Mama on “What’s Happening”
• Marcello Mastroianni, actor who appeared in 142 films
• Jerry Mathers, actor of “Leave It To Beaver” fame
• Mary Tyler Moore, actress and star of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”
• Richard Mulligan, actor on the television show “Empty Nest”
• Minnie Pearl, entertainer, actress on the variety show “Hee Haw”
• Ehster Rolle, actress on the TV Show “Good Times”
• George C. Scott, Academy Award-winning actor
• Jean Smart, actress on “Designing Women”
• Kate Smith, singer, actress who sang “God Bless America”
• Spencer Tracy, famous leading man of Hollywood movies
• Mae West, actress
• Jane Wyman, actress on “Falcon Crest”

Political Leaders

• Yuri Andropov, former premier of Soviet Union
• Menachem Begin, Israeli prime minister
• Lucille B. Chapman, a five-time Menominee Indian tribal chairwoman
• James Farmer, civil rights pioneer
• Mikhail Gorbachev, former Soviet premier
• Janet Jagan, president of Guyana
• Fiorello LaGuardia, New York mayor and the airport’s namesake
• Winnie Mandela, South African anti-apartheid leader
• Anwar Sadat, Egyptian leader

Business Leaders

• James Conkling, founder of The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
• Bill and John Davidson, heads of Harley Davidson motorcycles
• Tom Foster, former head of Foster Poultry Farms
• W.L. Gherra, of Payless Drugs
• Howard Hughes, industrialist
• Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s fast food restaurants

Musicians

• Nat Adderley, jazz trumpeter
• Ray Anderson, jazz trombonist
• Hoyt Axton, folksy baritone, songwriter and actor
• Syd Barrett, of the rock group Pink Floyd
• Johnny Cash, legendary country singer, known as “the man in black”
• Carol Channing, Tony Award-winning singer/actress in “Hello Dolly”
• Mark Collie, contemporary country star
• David Crosby, member of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
• Miles Davis, legendary jazz great
• Freddy Fender, actor and country singer
• Ella Fitzgerald, jazz vocalist
• Mick Fleetwood, singer in rock band Fleetwood Mac
• Jerry Garcia, lead singer of The Grateful Dead
• Dizzy Gillespie, jazz trumpeter
• Mahalia Jackson, singer
• Waylon Jennings, country singer
• B.B. King, rhythm and blues star
• Patti LaBelle, pop singer
• Peggy Lee, ’50s songster
• Tommy Lee, of heavy metal band Motley Crue
• Andrew Lloyd Webber, Broadway composer
• Meat Loaf, singer
• Bret Michaels, lead singer of the rock group Poison
• The Pump Girls

Scientists

• Morris Braunstein, scientist
• Thomas Edison, inventor
• Albert Ellis, psychologist, rational emotive therapy
• Cynthia Ice, developer of Lotus software
• George Minot, first person with diabetes to receive Nobel Prize in medicine
• Lois Jovanovic-Peterson, scientist, endocrinologist, author of “Diabetic Women”

Sports

• Arthur Ashe, tennis legend
• Walter Barnes, former Philadelphia Eagle turned actor
• Ayden Byle, runner
• Bobby Clarke, hockey player for the Philadelphia Flyers
• Ty Cobb, baseball player for the Detroit Tigers
• Scott Coleman, first man with diabetes to swim the English Channel
• Buster Douglas, boxer
• Kenny Duckett, football player for the New Orleans Saints
• Chris Dudley, New York Knicks basketball player
• Del Ennis, baseball player
• Curt Frasier, hockey player for the Chicago Black Hawks
• Bill Gullickson, pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds
• Gary Hall, Olympic gold medalist in swimming
• Jonathon Hayes, tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs
• Catfish Hunter, pitcher for the Oakland A’s and the New York Yankees
• Jason Johnson, pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles
• Billie Jean King, tennis player
• Ed Kranepool, baseball player with the New York Mets
• Kelli Kuehne, LPGA golfer who wears a pump on the golf course
• Jay Leeuwenburg, offensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals
• Calvin Muhammed, football player for the Washington Redskins
• Jackie Robinson, baseball star who broke the color barrier in the Major Leagues
• Sugar Ray Robinson, boxer
• Ron Santo, third basemen for the Chicago Cubs
• Art Shell, NFL player and coach
• Michael Sinclair, defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks
• Bill Talbert, hall of fame tennis player
• Jersey Joe Walcott, boxer
• Wade Wilson, NFL quarterback

Writers/Reporters

• Richard Bartlett, film
• June Bierman, author of books on diabetes
• Fran Carpentier, editor of Parade magazine
• Sylvia Chase, ABC News Reporter
• Ernest Hemingway, 20th century novelist
• Walt Kelly, animator in
• Disney
  
• Mario Puzo, author of “The Godfather”
• Anne Rice, “Interview With a Vampire” author
• H.G. Wells, writer, “The Invisible Man”

That's it guys, stay tuned for more lists and celebrities with illnesses. if you got any questions, comments or whatever, contact me through the top menu.