Susan Boyle ordered by doctors to give up chocolate and sweets after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes

PUBLISHED: 07:32 EST, 24 November 2013 | UPDATED: 10:10 EST, 24 November 2013

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Susan Boyle has been battling to give up chocolate and sweets after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it has been reported.

The 52-year-old singer, who first shot to fame on Britain's Got Talent, is said to have found it incredibly difficult to kick her sweet tooth habits, but has managed to do so for the sake of her health.

According to a friend, Susan is now managing her condition by taking tablets daily.

Diagnosis: Susan Boyle has been ordered to cut out chocolate and sweets after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes

The pal told the Sunday Mirror: 'Susan is very much following doctor's orders now and has cut the sweets out. At the moment she is able to control the condition with tablets.'

Belting it out: Susan's only vice was her sweet tooth, as she doesn't smoke or drink

It is believed the tablets Susan has been taking are metformin - a drug that boosts the amount of insulin taken up by the cells.

However, friends are said to have warned the star, who reportedly had been 'sneaking in' sweets to her house before kicking her habit, that if she does give in and succumb to her love of all things sweet, her condition could worsen and see her have to inject insulin as a means of controlling the illness.

The friend added: 'That's the last thing she and those around her want.'

Susan had never made a secret of her love of chocolate and sweets, which were her only vice as she doesn't drink alcohol and doesn't smoke.

The singer previously gave up chocolate for Lent, adding: 'It's too fattening anyway!'

Susan's diagnosis comes after Hollywood actor Tom Hanks recently revealed that he too suffers from the condition.

Speaking to David Letterman, Hanks said: 'I went to the doctors and they said, "You know those high blood sugar numbers you've been living with since you were 36, well you've graduated, you've got Type 2 Diabetes young man". '

Other stars who have type 2 diabetes include Halle Berry, Larry King and Randy Jackson.

Sweet tooth: Susan is seen tucking into a chocolate bar back in 2009

WHAT IS TYPE 2 DIABETES?

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot efficiently use it to convert glucose to provide energy.

World Health Organisation statistics show that 347 million people worldwide have the condition, which can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves - increasing the risk of heart disease, kidney failure, stroke and blindness.

Type 1 is caused when the cells that produce the hormone insulin are destroyed – and is usually diagnosed early in life.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the insulin produced becomes less effective - normally as a result of being overweight and inactive. The body needs more and more insulin to try to keep blood sugar within a normal range.

Although the biggest risk factor for type 2 diabetes is weight, genes can also have an important role.

And one in five people with the condition are not obese, with many leading healthy lifestyles.

The problem is that the stereotype of the type 2 diabetes sufferer means that as many as one million people may be going undiagnosed simply because they do not believe they are in a high-risk group.

Experts warn that invisible internal fat around vital organs could be placing this group at risk.

The usual treatment for type 2 diabetes is diet and lifestyle changes and taking metformin, a drug that boosts the amount of insulin taken up by the cells. In more severe cases, patients need to inject themselves with insulin.

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Erika, New York, United States, 11 hours ago

Lazy reporting....Halle Berry has Type 1, the gene based, diabetes. And I wonder where are all the usual "fat acceptance" people claiming they're happy & healthy & beautiful, whereas jumping down on the offensive at naturally thin people.

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Mikejjtp, Harpurhey - UK, 12 hours ago

Oh well. Never mind.

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ahu, CA, 12 hours ago

It isn't just sugar that you have to monitor but carbohydrates. Carbs are much more difficult to give up or change. Sure, you can say "No, I won't have that chocolate bar, I'll have a bowl of rice and chicken instead." You might have been better off having a smaller bit of chocolate than a cup of rice. And, everything in moderation. Going cold turkey on anything will result in binge eating. Finding substitutions that you like or smaller portions. Increase exercise by adding it into your lifestyle such as parking the car further than you normally would, using the stairs, walking around the block, dance in your home if you don't like going out. It's the little things that add up and help you change for the better.

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Anne King, Woodside Queens, United States, 12 hours ago

This woman has a voice that is beyond compare. I hope she does decide to take care of herself. Listening to her sing, you just forget about her looks. It's a shame, in a way, since we're so caught up with looks and there are those out there who she would put to shame in two notes. I wish her all the luck in the world.

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Ichigo23, Baldwin, United States, 12 hours ago

When will people understand your body is like a house? If you don't maintain this house, it will become negatively affected. Whatever you put inside your mouth, will either enhance the survivability/condition or decrease the survivability/condition of your body. People become retroactive when something occurs, which makes little sense, when you have had years to stop whatever it is from occurring.