Singer and actor Nick Jonas is opening up about one of the most pivotal moments in his life—the discovery that he had type 1 diabetes at the young age of 13. Speaking on the latest episode of Podcrushed, hosted by You star Penn Badgley, Jonas shared how his health began to rapidly decline in 2006 during the Jonas Brothers’ school tour, a time that marked the rise of his early fame.
“I started losing a ton of weight and, you know, drinking a ton of water, using the bathroom all the time—all the signs now that I know are symptoms of type 1 diabetes,” Jonas recounted. Married to actress Priyanka Chopra, Jonas explained that, at the time, he had no idea what was happening to his body. “I had no idea.
I just knew that I wasn’t feeling well and was losing all this weight,” he said. “It’s actually a testament to the lack of information and awareness there was around type 1 at this time,” Jonas revealed that the severity of his condition was first flagged by his brother, Joe Jonas, during a trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where they were trying to enjoy a break from their tour schedule.
“He was sort of like chaperoning me. We went to the pool one day, and he saw my back and called my parents and said, ‘You know, something’s really wrong. You have to get down here,’” Nick explained. When Jonas was finally examined by doctors, they made a shocking discovery—his blood glucose level was dangerously high.
“Normal glucose should be between 70 to 120 for a person not living with type 1 diabetes… Mine was like north of 900, which is obviously very high,” he said. The diagnosis marked a dramatic turning point in his life. Since then, Jonas has become a vocal advocate for diabetes awareness and has used his platform to educate others about managing the chronic condition.
Throughout his career, Jonas has been candid about his experience living with type 1 diabetes, often speaking publicly about how he maintains a healthy lifestyle while performing, touring, and managing a busy schedule. His reflections on Podcrushed serve as a reminder of the importance of early detection, awareness, and support for those living with type 1 diabetes—particularly young people who may not recognize the signs.