Musical superstar Nick Jonas was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 13 while touring with his family band, The Jonas Brother. Jonas said that it was a huge shock. “I remember thinking that it might be the end of that run and that my dreams would have to come to a pause,” he said. “Thankfully, it didn’t.”
Sun Life Financial Inc. teamed up with BEYOND TYPE 1; an organization Jonas cofounded. They provided select members of the Canadian Diabetes Association with an opportunity to meet the singer-songwriter during the Canadian leg of his world tour.
He was thrilled to join forces with Sun Life Financial in the fight against diabetes and encourage people living with this disease to follow their dreams and live beyond their diagnosis. Jonas said that since he was first diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes he’s learned how to properly manage his disease to not only live, but live well. Jonas noted that although Type 1 diabetes is not preventable, 90% of people with disease live with Type 2 diabetes, which in many cases can be prevented or delayed by identifying risks, eating well and staying active.
“I remember thinking that it might be the end of that run and that my dreams would have to come to a pause,” he said. “Thankfully, it didn’t.”
“Over the last nine, 10 years now, I’ve really been vocal about it and inform people that I’m able to live my best life while living with the disease and doing all the things I want to do. So, teaming with Sun Life,” Jonas told Global News, ” and building these unique opportunities to meet with fans and speak with them in a really candid environment and just kind of lay it out has been really great.”
Really what we’re trying to do, Jonas said, is trying to inspire these children and make them understand they can live a great life and be all they want to be despite the fact they have diabetes.
Sun Life Financial is encouraging Canadians to visit www.sunlifeagainstdiabetes.com, to get screened about their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and take the proper steps to help prevent it or manage the disease at its onset.
