Nick Jonas has opened up about a personal health battle that has been part of his life for years through a heartfelt letter. The singer-actor reflected on the challenges of managing his long-term condition while sharing his experiences and offering words of support to others going through a similar journey.
Jonas, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 13, reflected on his relationship with the autoimmune disease for Dexcom’s “A Letter to Diabetes” campaign, created to honor National Diabetes Awareness Month and World Diabetes Day. The 34-year-old wrote, “Hello, old friend. How long has it been? Twenty-one years. Twenty-one years, and you haven’t changed a bit. It’s funny how often we talk.”
He continued, “Every few minutes, honestly, staring at my phone to see where my glucose is. Reaching for my pump to bolus because I’m about to eat something with 17 carbs. Those are just a couple of the hundreds of little decisions I make every week.” In the letter, Jonas noted that these constant micro-decisions “add up to a real relationship,” describing living with the disease as “an ongoing conversation between your body, your mind, and your devices.”
While he acknowledged that he and his condition get along some days, Jonas also shared that on other days, it goes “off on a solo mission” regardless of how diligent he is.
“In a lot of ways, that’s what family is like. You rely on each other, you push each other, and you know they’ll always be there. So even when you’re fighting, you trust the rug isn’t going to get pulled out from under you,” Jonas added.
The pop star also explained why he continues to use his global platform to speak publicly about his health journey. “I share my story for the 13-year-old who just got diagnosed and is lying in a hospital bed, scared to death. I want them to be able to look up and see someone out there living their dreams while managing all of this, every single day.”
How Nick Jonas found a sense of belonging through the diabetes community
While the Jonas Brothers member has been vocal about the difficulties of managing type 1 diabetes, he also shared how connecting with others in the diabetes community helped him overcome feelings of isolation. Jonas revealed that he struggled to find a sense of belonging during his youth, often feeling misunderstood at school and in social circles.
“It wasn’t until I started talking openly about life with type 1 and meeting other people who were living it too, that I finally felt like I belonged somewhere,” Jonas wrote, adding, “I never wanted to be a victim, or to come across like one.”
The Jumanji actor concluded his letter by thanking the autoimmune disease “for the lessons” he never asked for and promised to keep sharing his story so that others might feel less alone.
Originally reported on ComingSoon.
