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Heroes of Diabetes
Mary Tyler Moore
Mary has been the chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for over
20 years as a diabetes patient herself. Mary was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
in her 30s and works hard to stay healthy, though she shared that diabetes is a
deceptive disease. Mary feels that she is healthy because she has great doctors
who take care of her, but that she still has symptoms that affect her daily life.
Mary struggles with balance and vision, making her unable to drive or ride horses,
and also with arthritis. Mary's autobiography titled Growing Up Again where she
discusses how diabetes made her grow up.
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Randy Jackson
"American Idol" judge and performer Randy Jackson was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
in 2001, when he weighed 360 pounds. "I was in the worse shape of my life," Jackson,
now 51, told Newsweek magazine. Even though his father had been diabetic, he thought
he just had a cold -- until he went to the doctor and was diagnosed with diabetes.
In addition to treatment with medication, Jackson underwent a gastric bypass operation
that reduced his weight to 230 pounds. He has given up the pies and cakes he grew
up with as a child in the South. Jackson's diet today includes plenty of vegetables
and very few sweets. "Food is for nutrition now," he told Newsweek. He is also helping
the American Heart Association get the word out about the heart risks associated
with the disease.
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Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas, the youngest member of the Jonas Brothers, knows first hand that being
diagnosed with type 1 diabetes is life changing. Nick is passionate about sharing
his personal experiences with diabetes because he knows so many young people, like
him, can feel alone when diagnosed with the disease. He also knows, however, that
a diabetes diagnosis does not necessarily need to be life restricting. Through carefully
monitoring his diet, exercise and blood sugar levels, Nick has been able to simplify
life with diabetes while also achieving his dreams.
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Jay Cutler
Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler is helping send children with diabetes to
summer camps. Cutler was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last spring, is an ambassador
for the Eli Lilly & Co. "Inspired by Diabetes" campaign. "Diabetes is the toughest
opponent I've ever faced, but I wasn't going to let it slow down my career," Cutler
said. "And kids don't have to let it stop them from reaching for the dreams." Cutler
was an Indiana All-State quarterback at Class 3A champion Heritage Hills in 2000.
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