Elvis Presley, Mikhail Gorbachev, Mary Tyler Moore, Ernest Hemingway, Jackie Gleason, and Jerry Garcia: all of these people have suffered from the same medical illness. What is it?

The common thread linking this diverse group of famous figures is their shared battle with diabetes, a disease that affects how the body processes sugar. Their experiences with the illness were as varied as their careers, touching their lives in different and significant ways. For some, like actor Mary Tyler Moore, a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes at age 33 transformed her into a tireless advocate. She became the international chairperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (Review) and used her fame to raise funds and awareness for the condition.

For others, the disease was intertwined with a lifestyle of excess. Entertainer Jackie Gleason, known for his large appetite for food and alcohol, was diagnosed with diabetes late in life, alongside other serious health issues. Similarly, Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia’s health struggles were compounded by diabetes, which led to a near-fatal coma in 1986. Rock and roll legend Elvis Presley also reportedly had Type 2 diabetes, a condition that likely contributed to his declining health in his final years.

The impact of diabetes extended to world leaders and literary giants as well. The last leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, lived with diabetes from his early thirties, and it led to numerous hospitalizations and ultimately kidney failure. Author Ernest Hemingway battled a hereditary form of the disease called hemochromatosis, or "bronze" diabetes, which added to a host of other health problems that plagued him throughout his life. These individuals highlight the widespread and indiscriminate nature of diabetes, affecting people from all walks of life.