Happy Valley leader James Norton today shared an intimate insight into how he deals with his type 1 diabetes.
The Bafta winner, who split from actor Imogen Poots last year, was diagnosed with the condition at the age of 22 after he started experiencing worrying symptoms such as ‘losing weight, urinating more often and feeling very tired’.
He has since called the disease his “mini superpower,” claiming it has given him “extraordinary empathy” for “anyone who has something that makes them a little bit different.”
In a new Instagram video published by NHS England – filmed for Diabetes Awareness Month – he revealed how he uses his continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
‘It’s easier to control my sugar levels, which means fewer hypos, less anxiety and a healthier, happier life. I love mine,” he said.
He opened a new Dexcom sensor, a popular CGM brand, and first removed the protective cap.
A CGM is a wearable device that tracks glucose in real time and sends the information back to a linked smartphone app.
It can also be connected to an implanted pump, which automatically releases the exact amount of insulin you need into the bloodstream throughout the day.
The Bafta winner was diagnosed with the condition at the age of 22, after he started experiencing worrying symptoms such as ‘losing weight, urinating more often and feeling very tired’
In an Instagram video published by NHS England – filmed for Diabetes Awareness Month – he revealed how he uses his continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
Norton gave viewers a glimpse of his toned chest, then placed the CGM applicator on the side of his stomach and pressed the button to insert the sensor.
Within seconds he removed the applicator, before clicking the small transmitter firmly into place on top of the sensor.
“There we have it folks,” Norton said. “That’s the magic.”
Reacting to the one-minute video, social media followers applauded his “fantastic” openness.
One said: “Like I’m taking medical advice from Tommy Lee Royce,” a nod to Norton’s Happy Valley character.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas cannot produce insulin, a hormone that regulates the level of sugar (also called glucose) in the blood.
When this happens, the sugar level in the patient’s blood can become dangerously high.
Over time, fluctuating glucose levels can also lead to a range of long-term complications, including permanent eye problems and nerve damage that can result in limb loss.
Norton places the CGM applicator on the side of his abdomen and then presses the button to insert the sensor
Norton, who is also known for his roles in Little Women and BBC dramas The Trial of Christine Keeler and McMafia, has long been involved in raising awareness of the condition.
Norton, who is also known for his roles in Little Women and BBC dramas The Trial of Christine Keeler and McMafia, has long been involved in raising awareness of the condition.
The actor has also taken part in several educational events led by Professor Partha Kar, the NHS’s leader in diabetes technology.
Meanwhile, the hunk, who stars in the new Netflix film Joy, which premieres this Friday, has taken to Instagram to post selfies proudly showing off the CGM in his arm.
Norton starred in last year’s West End hit A Little Life and has previously told the Daily Mail about the difficulties he faced while performing on stage.
‘Being in a play is complicated because sometimes I’m on stage for an hour and a half,” he said.
‘If it’s a period drama, I ask the costume designers to create a hidden pocket where I can store some sugar lozenges.
‘Then when I start to feel shaky, I improvise: I walk on stage, throw three dextrose tablets (high glucose supplements) into my month and then continue with the scene.
“I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve done that.”
According to the latest figures for Britain, almost 4.3 million people were living with diabetes in 2021/2022. And another 850,000 people have diabetes and are completely unaware of it, which is worrying because untreated type 2 diabetes can lead to complications including heart disease and stroke.
He also revealed that he prefers not to use an insulin pump, opting instead to inject himself.
‘As an actor I change costumes all the time. Sometimes I have to do a scene naked, with my top off, or wear tight clothes,” he said.
‘I don’t want to be attached to two devices.
‘I give myself about fifteen insulin injections a day. I’m happy with that because it suits my lifestyle.
‘Keep in mind it’s a 5mm needle and it takes me seven seconds.
“I can do three during a meal – my Dexcom (CGM) tells me if I need more insulin before pudding – and no one even notices.”
He added that since using his CGM, he has not had a single hypo and has kept his blood sugar levels stable.
Before this technology was available, patients had to prick their fingers to draw blood with a lancet and insert the sample into a separate device to measure blood sugar levels.
Norton plays a leading role in the new Netflix film Joy, which premieres on Netflix this Friday. Pictured last month with Joy co-star Thomasin McKenzie
Joy shows the true story of Louise Brown, the world’s first baby with in vitro fertilization
His appearance on NHS England’s social media channels comes days after he stepped out with his new girlfriend, artist and Prada model Charlotte Rose Smith
Norton’s diagnosis did not come as a shock to his family.
‘Within our small family of four, it is completely normal to have type 1 diabetes; my father is the only one who doesn’t have it,” he told The Daily Mail.
‘My sister Jessie was diagnosed when she was nine.
‘My mother was diagnosed when she was 58 (about the same age Theresa May was when she discovered she was type 1).’
Norton said it was never thought he would change his career direction due to concerns about dealing with the condition.
“I was proud to answer that I never thought for a moment that it would slow me down,” he said, adding, “It’s a beautiful, powerful thing.”
His appearance on NHS England’s social media channels comes days after he stepped out with his new girlfriend, artist and Prada model Charlotte Rose Smith.
The pair have been dating for ‘a few months’, according to insiders, and were photographed near his north London home last week.