As a producer at Access Hollywood, I often get asked, “Who is your favorite celebrity that you have met?”
Hard question to answer, but I have to say the Jonas Brothers are at the top!
Admittedly, I am a bit old to be a hardcore JoBros fan (although I do like their music), but these world-famous brothers are a pleasure to be around. They’re nice, polite, grounded, and full of gratitude – certainly a far cry from other teen stars that are constant fodder for the tabloids with their out-of-control partying & spoiled behavior.
I often say behind every well-adjusted star is old fashion, good mothering. The other day at Access Hollywood’s office, I got the chance to meet and interview the Jonas Brothers’ mom, Denise – and she didn’t debunk my theory. Chatting with Denise is like meeting up with an old friend; she’s animated, grounded, and modest about her boys’ success.
Denise was a guest on Access Hollywood Live to chat about type 1 diabetes – a cause near and dear to her heart. Nick, now 18, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 13. “I feel that we were very fortunate when Nick was diagnosed, we had a great team around us to give us an education right away,” Denise reveals to Healthy Hollywood.
Initially Denise blamed herself for her son’s diabetes, adding, “There were definitely feelings of guilt…it’s not anything I could have done or Nick could have done and I think just learning to accept it…For us as a family our goal has been to inspire and to continually encourage other people because when you share your story you don’t feel alone.”
Each year, more than 13,000 young people in the U.S. are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. As Denise attests, raising a diabetic child can be challenging, but education is key. She hopes to educate other parents through collaboration between Lilly Diabetes and Disney. “I’m excited about this collaboration because they’re really providing, through their resources both online and in print, ways to give people day to day encouragement and know that’s not the end of the world and the darkness will pass.”
Disney is releasing a collection of books for kids, which features a fun-loving monkey who has type 1 diabetes. Plus, Disney Family has an online resource site, and they’ve launched the Once Upon a Time Contest – a writing contest for parents and caregivers to share their experience.
Denise also shares Nick’s diabetes has given her son a real purpose in real life – besides just being a famous pop star. He’s actively involved in charities for diabetes and reaches out to young kids suffering from the condition. “Diabetes does not define Nick, but it is a part of who is…and he also wants to encourage young kids to overcome obstacles in their life.”
For more information on type 1 diabetes, head to www.family.com/type1 and for more information on the Once Upon a Time Contest, check out, www.onceuponatimecontest.com
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