Priyanka Chopra Jonas, the acclaimed actress and advocate, is leveraging her platform to raise awareness about diabetes in India, a nation grappling with a staggering health crisis. With over 100 million affected and a significant portion undiagnosed, her campaign aims to reduce stigma and promote early detection.
As the daughter of two doctors in the Indian military, Priyanka Chopra Jonas spent much of her childhood in hospitals, witnessing the profound impact of healthcare on individuals and communities. Despite her own squeamishness—’I am squeamish even at my own cut,’ she admits—her experiences shaped her understanding of health disparities. A formative moment came when she assisted her parents in a rural village, illuminating the stark reality that one’s birthplace can drastically alter life outcomes. This realization has spurred her commitment to making healthcare more accessible.
Chopra Jonas’s illustrious career pivoted from a teenage pageant queen to an internationally recognized actress, notably becoming the first South Asian woman to lead an American network drama in ‘Quantico.’ However, her rise to fame has been shadowed by an alarming health crisis in India, where diabetes has reached epidemic proportions. The disease now affects over 100 million people in the country, with half of those suffering from the condition remaining undiagnosed, often due to societal stigmas and misconceptions.
As she prepares to star in ‘Varanasi,’ one of India’s most expensive films to date, Chopra Jonas is simultaneously championing a campaign aimed at educating the public about diabetes. This initiative is not just a professional endeavor; it is deeply personal. Her marriage to musician Nick Jonas in late 2018 brought her face-to-face with the realities of diabetes when she learned about his diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes at the age of 13. The autoimmune condition requires constant management and lifelong insulin therapy, a responsibility she became intimately familiar with.
‘I used to wake up in the middle of the night sometimes, just to see if he was breathing,’ Chopra Jonas recalls, highlighting the vigilance required to manage Type 1 diabetes. Through her personal journey, she has come to understand that with early detection and appropriate treatment, diabetes need not define one’s life. ‘You can handle and live with this condition—and actually thrive with it,’ she asserts, echoing a message of hope.
For the past five years, Chopra Jonas has served as a board member for Beyond Type 1, a nonprofit organization co-founded by Nick Jonas in 2015. The organization aims to reduce the stigma surrounding diabetes and connect individuals with crucial resources. Initially focused on the United States, Beyond Type 1 has recently expanded its efforts to India, a country with the highest prevalence of Type 1 diabetes among children and teenagers worldwide.
In December, propelled by Chopra Jonas’s insights, Beyond Type 1 launched an educational campaign in India to raise awareness about the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes. ‘Awareness is really low,’ Chopra Jonas explains, noting that many are unaware of the signs or fear that a diagnosis could hinder their ability to work or marry. This stigma is deeply entrenched, as Deborah Dugan, CEO of Beyond Type 1, points out: ‘The desire to keep it secret is ridiculously strong.’
To counteract this stigma, Beyond Type 1 produced a powerful video featuring real individuals in India living with Type 1 diabetes. The video, which showcases a diverse range of personal stories—from a young karate champion to a pastry chef—was shared on Chopra Jonas’s Instagram account and amassed an astonishing 279 million views. Such outreach is crucial in a country where early diagnosis can significantly alter the trajectory of treatment and quality of life for those affected.
Beyond Type 1 has also made strides in providing online resources in multiple languages, including Hindi, Marathi, and Tamil. Recently, the organization allocated half a million dollars to support Indian organizations dedicated to promoting early detection of diabetes. The initiative has led to the recruitment of nearly 200 people in India as ambassadors for Beyond Type 1, who are actively working to raise awareness by distributing educational materials, visiting clinics, and advocating for change on an international level.
Last September, one of these ambassadors was invited to speak at a health-focused UN General Assembly meeting, underscoring the global relevance of the diabetes crisis. Each ambassador’s narrative is unique, but they collectively convey a vital message: early diagnosis can lead to effective management of the disease. Chopra Jonas emphasizes, ‘Don’t be afraid of the diagnosis.’ Her campaign not only seeks to inform but also aims to empower individuals to confront the condition without fear.
In a world increasingly aware of health disparities and the need for accessible healthcare solutions, Chopra Jonas’s efforts are a shining example of how celebrity influence can catalyze social change. As she continues to balance her acting career with her advocacy, her work promises to shed light on the urgent need for improved healthcare resources and education in India, particularly in the realm of diabetes.
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