Fans of BBC drama Happy Valley will know actor James Norton for his chilling portrayal of psychopathic villain Tommy Lee Royce.
But while the star, 39, was giving his Bafta-winning performance in the series, he was managing the chronic and life-threatening disease type 1 diabetes.
Norton, who recently separated from his fiancée and partner of six years, actress Imogen Poots, was diagnosed with the disease at age 22, after he began experiencing worrying symptoms such as “losing weight, urinating more frequently and feeling very tired”.
He has since referred to the illness as his “mini superpower”, stating that it has given him “extraordinary empathy” for “anyone who has something that makes them a little bit different”.
Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong autoimmune disease that affects around 300,000 people in the UK and is rising.
Unlike type 2 diabetes, which is linked to lifestyle habits such as poor diet and lack of exercise, type 1 diabetes is believed to be genetic.
It is triggered by uncontrolled immune cells that mistakenly stop insulin production.
Insulin is the vital hormone that our body needs to convert the foods in our diet into energy and keeps blood sugar or glucose stable.
TV star James Norton was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 22 years old. He wears an implant that monitors his blood sugar level 24/7 and alerts him to dangerous accidents.
Sufferers of this condition should be on high alert for hypoglycemia: sudden drops in blood sugar that can cause dizziness and tremors. If this is not quickly treated with a sugar burst, such as a fizzy drink or a packet of sweets, patients can suffer life-threatening seizures or coma.
If not controlled with insulin injections, unstable blood sugar can wreak havoc and damage tissues, particularly the small blood vessels in the eyes, kidneys, and those that supply the nerves in the hands and feet.
James Norton, also known for his roles in the BBC drama McMafia and a 2016 adaptation of War and Peace, has long been involved in raising awareness of the condition.
He has participated in several educational events led by NHS diabetes technology leader Professor Partha Kar.
Meanwhile, on Instagram, the pretty star has posted selfies proudly showing off the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) implanted in her arm.
A CGM is a wearable device that tracks glucose in real time and transmits the information to a paired smartphone app.
A modern version called Freestyle Libre is connected to an implanted pump, which automatically dispenses the exact amount of insulin you need into your bloodstream throughout the day.
Other patients have taken to the social media platform to express their surprise that Norton shares the same condition as them and applaud him in his quest to help others access rapid diagnosis and treatment.
Norton was celebrated for his performance in the BBC crime drama Happy Valley, in which he played murderer Tommy Lee Royce.
The third and final season of Happy Valley aired in 2023. Norton said in an interview that the show “was always designed to be a trilogy and it definitely won’t be coming back.”
‘I can’t believe you have the same (condition)!’ one follower commented on a Norton MCG Instagram post, while another said: ‘I never knew you were diabetic. I use Libre 2; It’s smaller than yours.”
Another woman, called Filippa, said: ‘I like you even more now. I didn’t know.
In 2019, Norton told The Daily Mail about the difficulties managing his condition while performing on stage. Last year he starred in a West End production of a A Little Life, an adaptation of Hanya Yanagihara’s novel in which he played a character who was abused as a child.
‘Being in a play is tricky because I can be on stage for up to an hour and a half,” Norton said. “If it’s a period drama, I’ll ask the costume designers to create a hidden pocket where I can stash some sugar pills.
“Then, if I start to feel shaky, I’ll improvise: I’ll go on stage, take three dextrose tablets (high glucose supplements) in my month, and then continue with the scene. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve done it.” .’
He also told The Daily Mail that he prefers not to use an insulin pump and opts to inject himself.
‘As an actor, I constantly change costumes. “Sometimes I have to do a scene naked, with my shirt off or in tight clothing,” he said. ‘I don’t want to be tied to two teams.
‘I take about 15 insulin injections a day. I’m happy with it because it fits 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 the pudding) and no one notices.’
He added that since using his CGM, he had not suffered a single hypoglycemia and had kept his blood sugar level 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 obtain a blood sugar reading.
Norton’s diagnosis did not surprise his family.
‘In our small nuclear family of four, it is completely normal to have type 1 diabetes; “My dad is the only one who doesn’t have it,” he told the Daily Mail.
‘My little sister, Jessie, was diagnosed when she was nine. My mother was diagnosed when she was 58 (around the same age Theresa May was when she discovered she had type 1 diabetes).’
Norton said he never thought about changing the direction of his career because of concerns about managing his illness.
“I was proud to respond that I never thought for a moment that it would hold me back,” he told The Daily Mail, adding: “It’s a lovely and empowering thing.”