From cult classics like Steel Magnolias to popular shows like The Resident, diabetes has made its way into a range of movies and TV shows over the years. NATALIE ESCOBAR looks at how 7 movies and TV shows have depicted type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

1. Steel Magnolias (1989) 

Perhaps one of the most famous films to portray diabetes on-screen, Steel Magnolias follows a group of women living in a small town in Louisiana and their friendships, challenges and milestones. One of the women, Shelby (Julia Roberts), is a young woman living with type 1 diabetes. Her diabetes becomes an important part of her storyline as she navigates pregnancy, and the film includes a scene where she experiences a hypoglycaemic episode. Shelby’s story was inspired by the real-life experiences of playwright Robert Harling’s sister, Susan Harling Robinson, who also lived with type 1 diabetes. 

2. Panic Room (2002)  

David Fincher’s 2002 thriller follows Meg (Jodie Foster) and her 10-year-old daughter Sarah (Kristen Stewart), who lives with type 1 diabetes, as they are forced to hide in a panic room after a break-in at their home. While hiding in the panic room, Sarah experiences a severe low blood glucose episode, forcing her mum to sneak out and retrieve her glucagon kit to treat the hypoglycaemia.  

3. Purple Hearts (2022)   

Purple Hearts centres on aspiring singer-songwriter Cassie (Sofia Carson), who enters a marriage of convenience with a marine, Luke (Nicholas Galitzine), so she can access his health insurance because she cannot afford the insulin she needs to manage her type 1 diabetes. The story also highlights modern diabetes technology, showing Cassie using a CGM and an insulin pump. 

4. Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)  

Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon is set in 1920s Oklahoma and tells the story of the Osage Nation, including Mollie Burkhart (Lily Gladstone), an Osage woman with type 2 diabetes. Mollie’s diabetes is shown throughout the film, with scenes of her husband, Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), giving her insulin injections. The story takes place during the early days of insulin treatment, when insulin was still a relatively new treatment for diabetes. 

5. The Baby-Sitters Club 

Netflix’s The Baby-Sitters Club series follows five teenage girls who start a babysitting business. Stacey (Shay Rudolph), the club’s treasurer, has type 1 diabetes, which is an important part of her character’s story. Two episodes focus on Stacey: one where she tells her friends about her diagnosis (Season 1, Episode 3: The Truth About Stacey), and another (Season 2, Episode 3: Stacey’s Emergency) that looks at her struggle with ‘diabetes burnout’ and daily challenges. Stacey manages her diabetes with a CGM and insulin pump. 

6. The Resident (Season 2, Episode 2: ‘The Prince & The Pauper’) 

In season two of The Resident, one episode features two diabetes stories. First, 14-year-old Jack develops diabetes after surgery for pancreatic cancer. Second, 13-year-old Abby, who has type 1 diabetes, is found unconscious in the hospital after trying to steal insulin. The show reveals that Abby’s mother cannot afford her insulin, leading Abby to ration and skip doses. 

7. black-ish (Season 4 Episode 9: Sugar Daddy) 

 

Inspired by actor Anthony Anderson’s real-life experience of living with type 2 diabetes, his character, Dre Johnson, is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the show’s fourth season. The episode follows Dre as he comes to terms with his diagnosis, initially struggling to accept it and looking for ways to ‘cure’ his diabetes rather than following his doctor and family’s advice. Over time, he comes to accept his diagnosis and finds a way to live with it. 

Keep in mind that every person’s journey with diabetes is unique, and what we see on screen may not always mirror real life. But even when the details aren’t perfect, these portrayals can open important conversations about living with diabetes. 

If you have questions about managing diabetes, our Diabetes WA Helpline is here to help. Call 1300 001 880 to speak with one of our health professionals. 

Disclaimer: The way diabetes is shown in movies and TV is meant for entertainment and might not always be accurate. For real medical advice or care, please talk to a healthcare professional.