James Norton was hailed as “a true inspiration” as he educated children about living with diabetes on CBeebies Bedtime Story, which aired on Friday.
The Happy Valley star, 38, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 22, read the book How to Handle a Mammoth by Dr. Rose Stewart to help families explore what it’s like to live with one.
James lived up to his status as a heartthrob as he read to viewers, accompanied by his teddy bear wearing a glucose monitor.
Introducing the story, James said: ‘Hello, my name is James. This story is slightly different. It focuses on type 1 diabetes.
James Norton was hailed as “a true inspiration” as he educated children about living with diabetes on CBeebies Bedtime Story, which aired on Friday.
The Happy Valley star, 38, who lives with type 1 diabetes, is seen helping children learn about the disease while reading How to Control a Mammoth.
‘I’m also diabetic. To those parents who have diabetes. Hello, respect. I hope those levels are behaving.
‘To those parents who have a diabetic child, perhaps newly diagnosed, I feel your anxiety and confusion. Its alot.
‘So give yourself a break and pat yourself on the back. It would be easier.’
Fans flooded a clip of the actor on the channel’s official Instagram page, saying: “There is no better advocate than James Norton.”
‘There is no better advocate than @jginorton to encourage, support and raise awareness in such a positive way’; ‘When I thought I couldn’t love @jginorton anymore… THIS…’;
‘I couldn’t love this message more and it will help many parents of t1 children. I wish I had seen it when my daughter was first diagnosed 7 years ago. Huge respect to James and everyone who included this in Bedtime Stories’; ‘Love this man!! He is an inspiration to all type 1 diabetics. I have had this condition for 31 years and I agree absolutely 100% with James. I control diabetes; He doesn’t control me!!’
‘My husband was diagnosed with type T1 diabetes when our children were young, it would have been wonderful for them to see. Thank you @jginorton for raising awareness for anyone with t1 and to Dr. Rose Stewart. X’; ‘As a mother of a 14 year old T1D, THIS is exactly what I tell him “you’re in charge, you decide what’s what…not the diabetes.” I’ll show it to him and his little brother. Well done @jginorton #to continue raising awareness’;
‘Thank you for reaching out and sharing your story. My daughter has type 1 diabetes and she hasn’t let it stop her from doing anything. She just had a baby and her pregnancy wasn’t easy due to diabetes, but she had amazing support from @nhstayside’; ‘The best positive message you can give to anyone with type 1 diabetes. I need to hear many more positive messages like this, very well done James and thank you’;
Fans were in awe of the actor and were quick to share heartfelt comments, praising him for spreading positive awareness towards parents and children and calling him a “true inspiration.”
In the bedtime story, 8-year-old Jake is learning to live with his diabetes, which he imagines is a mammoth named Mel.
One way the actor tries to teach children how to accept and manage diabetes is by cuddling a teddy bear with a continuous glucose monitor.
‘It’s truly wonderful what James is doing. He is VERY helpful for everyone who has diabetes. Much respect for him too. Fortunately, I do not have the condition, but I know several people who do. He must be very worrying, frustrating and confusing. I wish you all a lot of strength, adults and children.’
CBeebies Bedtime Story has seen plenty of Hollywood stars sit down and read a children’s book.
One way the actor tries to teach children how to accept and manage diabetes is by hugging a teddy bear with a continuous glucose monitor.
In the bedtime story, eight-year-old Jake is learning to live with his diabetes, which he imagines is a mammoth named Mel.
Jake and his mother join forces with their friends to figure out how to shrink Mel, the diabetic mammoth, to a manageable size.
James said: ‘My diabetic animal is a big, fluffy dog called Bruce. When I first got Bruce, he was a puppy.
‘He was difficult to control because he was always overexcited. Now he is a little older and calmer.
“He still gets scared when someone knocks on the door or is hungry. And then she barks very loudly. Or when she gets excited, she still runs and throws things.
But usually he walks by my side. Bruce is my friend. “I am pleased to say that today Bruce is under control and very calm, which makes me feel very happy and relaxed.”
The Happy Valley actor opened up about the struggles he faces living with diabetes last December with Lampoon magazine.
The type 1 diabetic told how he struggled to hide his diabetes sensor during nude scenes in the controversial play A Little Life, which he starred in earlier this year.
James wears a Dexcom sensor, which monitors blood glucose, and has told how difficult it was to hide it when taking part in the nude scenes.
He said: “As an actor, I have to cover the sensor every night, I also have the microphone on my arm.”
“I spend part of the play completely naked; normally you’d have a microphone package around your belt, but since I’m naked, it goes on my arm. The microphone on one arm, the sensor on the other, it’s very nice, the sound guy has now called my album.
The star told how the condition can be “complete bullshit” and “life-threatening” and asked people to “show support” for all the “diabetic warriors.”
In 2022, James shared a passionate post on his Instagram to raise awareness for World Diabetes Day.
‘I’ve never called it a record before. They cover it with a skin-colored bandage and that’s why I look like a man of action with straps.
Additionally, she talked about the condition, saying that when “low glucose hits” she feels very anxious and feels “existential dread,” and said it can even make her feel like “life isn’t worth living.”