Nick Jonas has spoken candidly about life with type 1 diabetes.
The Jonas Brothers pop star, now 30, was diagnosed with the condition at the age of 13, when he and his brothers were just hitting the big time.
On Monday (March 13), the Sucker hitmaker took part in a panel called Crushing: The Burden of Diabetes on Patients at SXSW, where he described his journey as a ‘crazy ride’.
‘It was an interesting journey not only for me, but for my whole family and community to go through,’ he began, reflecting on his health.
‘But I think coming out of that and getting my glucose regulated, I wanted to make it a priority to speak and advocate for this disease, for young people and, you know, all people living with both type 1 and type 2.’
Type 1 diabetes causes the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood to become too high, which happens when the body cannot produce enough of a hormone called insulin, which controls blood glucose, according to the NHS.
Diabetes UK adds that, although type 1 and type 2 diabetes both have things in common, there are lots of differences. Like what causes them, who they affect, and how you should manage them.
Type 1 affects 8% of everyone with diabetes. While type 2 diabetes affects about 90%.
Following his appearance on the panel, Nick later told Austin Statesman: ‘It was a really tough time.
‘My glucose reading was over 800, and the target range is anywhere from 70 to 120. It was a long time living with that higher glucose level.
‘Puberty alone is a big hurdle for young people when you add diabetes into the mix or an autoimmune disease of any kind, it can be really tough.’
‘For me it was about trying to manage my lifestyle with touring and working as much as I was working that time… while trying to figure out how to manage that disease,’ he added.
Over the years, the US star has worked hard to raise awareness about diabetes.
After being diagnosed himself, he co-founded the nonprofit Beyond Type 1 to allow others access to information and resources.
‘I can be a part of a conversation and use the platform I have to raise awareness,’ he said.
‘It would be easier to live with the disease if I was open and honest and hopefully for someone else who is in a similar position trying to figure out how to navigate a life with diabetes, me speaking about it could be helpful in whatever way. It’s been a crazy ride, but I’m in good health now.’
Nick is also now a proud dad to baby girl Malti Marie, joking at the panel that he prefers to be referred to as a ‘proud dad over global superstar.’
He shares the little one with wife Priyanka Chopra @PCFB #MidnightMusings #PostPackUpDreams #NightDrives , who too opened up recently about her struggles.
The actress revealed that she cried to her husband over body-shaming comments, after being told she wasn’t ‘sample-sized’.
‘Someone told me yesterday that I wasn’t sample-sized…’, Priyanka began telling Jennifer Salke, the head of Amazon Studios – according to People – at the SXSW conference.
First appear at Nick Jonas wants to be ‘advocate’ for type 1 diabetes after ‘really tough’ time managing his own condition
