Of the 21 million cases of diabetes, 90-95% of these are people with type 2 diabetes. Unlike those with type 1 diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes produce insulin. However, they either do not produce enough or their bodies cannot use the insulin properly.

Anyone can get type 2 diabetes, however people that are obese or overweight are more likely to getting it. Women who have had gestational diabetes, people with past history of type 2 diabetes, and people with metabolic syndromes are at a higher risk as well. It used to be that it was rare for children to get type 2 diabetes, but it is becoming more and more common.

People of certain genetic decent may also be at a higher risk of getting diabetes. African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are the ethnic groups that carry the highest risks. Older or elderly are also more prone to contracting the disease, as well as smokers and people who live a sedentary life-style.

 

Famous People with Type 2 Diabetes

 

There are many famous people who have, or had, type 2 diabetes. According to Dlife.com, famous people with diabetes include, but are not limited to, the following:

Actors & Actresses

Jack Benny – Comedian

Halle Berry – Actress

Delta Burke – Actress

James Cagney – Actor

Drew Carey – Actor, comedian, game show host

Jerry Lewis – Comedian, actor, film producer, director, writer, singer

Mary Tyler Moore – Actress, diabetes advocate

 

Athletes

Arthur Ashe – Tennis – Wimbledon winner

Ayden Byle – Runner

Doug Burns – Fitness consultant, Record-holding strength athelete

Sean Busby – Champion Snowboarder

Scott Coleman – Swimmer – the first man with diabetes to swim the English Cannel

 

Musicians

SydBarret – Singer (Pink Floyd)

Crystal Bowersox – Folk-rock musician, American Idol contestant

James Brown – ‘The Godfather of Soul’

Johnny Cash – ‘The Man in Black’

David Crosby – Singer (Crosby, Stills, and Nash)

PhifeDawg – Rapper (A Tribe Called Quest)

Arethra Franklin – ‘The Queen of Soul’

Jerry Garcia – Singer, musician (Grateful Dead)

 

Politicians and Statesmen

Yuri Andropov – Soviet Premier

President Hafez al-Assad – President of Syria

Samuel Block – Civil Rights Activist

Ralph Bunche – Noble Peace Winner, U.N. Diplomat

King Fahd – King of Saudi Arabia

Fiorello LaGuardia – Former Mayor of New York City

Brian Mulroney – Former Prime Minister

 

Artists

Paul Cezanne – Artist

Sergey Ermakov – Fashion Designer

Suzanne Gardner – Painter

ZipporaKarz – Ballet teacher, former NYC Ballet Soloist

Walt Kelly – Writer, Illustrator, artist

Giacomo Puccini – Operatic Composer

 

Related articles: Who Discovered Diabetes | Diabetic Vascular Disease |