Lance Bass wants his 5-year-old twins, Violet and Alexander, to learn something from watching him manage diabetes: they can ask for help and speak openly about their health.
The former NSYNC singer, 47, reflected on how the condition has shaped his family life with husband Michael Turchin, 39, in an open letter for Dexcom’s A Letter to Diabetes initiative.
“Violet and Alexander are still young, but they’re watching and learning every day,” Bass wrote. “I hope seeing me take care of myself, ask for help and talk openly about my health teaches them that vulnerability is strength, challenges don’t define us and taking care of ourselves is one of the ways we show love to the people around us.“
Getting the right diagnosis took persistence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bass was told he had Type 2 diabetes. When things weren’t adding up, he kept asking questions despite the changes he had made to his diet, medications and routine.
His condition was later identified as Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults, or LADA, which he also calls Type 1.5 diabetes. Because it generally develops in adulthood, it can be mistaken for Type 2.
“Whether I’m performing, working or chasing two five-year-olds around the house, managing you has become part of my everyday life,” he wrote, addressing diabetes directly.
Learning to manage the condition also meant learning about glucose readings, insulin and measures such as time in range. Bass said connecting with others who live with diabetes has helped him, and he hopes sharing his experience can offer someone else that same support.
“If my experience encourages even one person to ask questions, advocate for themselves, or feel a little less alone, that’s something I’m incredibly proud of.”