Celebrities who have children living with T1D

Celebrities — they're just like us! There are many that live with type 1 diabetes (t1d), like Nick Jonas, Bret Michaels, Jay Cutler, Elizabeth Perkins, Victor Garber, and the late Mary Tyler Moore, to name a few. Each received diabetes diagnoses and have had to manage the condition's daily highs and lows, just like those of us living with t1d.

However, there's also a lesser-known group of celebrities connected to the diabetes community — those who are parents of children living with t1d. In addition to their work on the screen, stage, and court, these celebrities help their kids manage diabetes and advocate for awareness about the condition.

Usher

Singer and songwriter Usher, one of the best-selling artists of the 2000s, is father to 13-year-old Usher Raymond V — or "Cinco" — who has lived with t1d since he was 6. Usher has noted that he admires his son's bravery: "A child that every day has to prick himself and has to be cautious of what he eats and also to carry this disorder around; that really is the type of bravery that we all aspire to have," he said in an interview with ABC News.

Since his son's diagnosis, Usher has been active with JDRF, participating in its #T1DLooksLikeMe campaign as well as attending its annual Promise Ball.

Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates

Renowned actors in their own rights, Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates share a child living with t1d. Their 29-year-old son, Owen, was diagnosed when he was a child.

"Once you have a child with diabetes you immediately stop being merely a parent. You become a doctor, nurse, nutritionist, expert," Kline said in an interview on CNN. Kline has also testified for t1d research and served as co-chair for the JDRF Advocacy program.

Alan Thicke

The late Alan Thicke is known for playing a dad on the beloved sitcom "Growing Pains," but in real life, he was a dad to son Brennan, who was diagnosed with t1d at age 4.

Thicke helped JDRF establish chapters in Ottawa and Calgary, as his son grew up in Canada. In addition, Thicke was highly involved with the Los Angeles chapter and even went on to establish his own charitable diabetes foundation: the Alan Thicke Centre.

Donna Lynne Champlin

Television and theater actress Donna Lynne Champlin is a newly appointed t1d parent, as her 9-year-old son Charlie was diagnosed in 2020.

Charlie has his own Instagram account, in which Donna makes frequent appearances, and he shares his t1d story with the world. Champlin is active in raising money and awareness for t1d research, and her personalized videos on Cameo benefit JDRF.

Ray Allen

NBA superstar Ray Allen's son Walker was diagnosed with t1d as a toddler. Allen has written about his and his wife's experiences as t1d parents in a Miami Herald op-ed. Allen also spoke recently about managing his 14-year-old son's t1d during the pandemic, noting that it was somewhat easier since he has been home more often. Allen is also a spokesperson for the Freestyle Libre continuous glucose monitor.

Jonathan Davis

Jonathan Davis, the lead singer of the band Korn, found out about his young son's, Zeppelin, t1d diagnosis while he was on the road. Korn's 2014 song "So Unfair" was written by Davis about his son's t1d journey. Proceeds from the single were donated to the JDRF.

Ron Darling

Former New York Mets pitcher and current sports color commentator Ron Darling has a son, Jordan, who was diagnosed with t1d when he was 11. "When your child is sick, you try to educate yourself with the latest research on the disease," Darling said on the website for his own t1d foundation, the Ron Darling Foundation. Since its inception, the foundation has now raised upwards of $10,000 to support the Diabetes Research Institute.

Looking to read more about how others are raising children living with t1d and helping them live their lives to the fullest? Check out the library of articles accessible through the Health Insights blog.