List of films featuring diabetes

There is a body of films that include a character with diabetes as part of the plot. In the late twentieth century, most films' references to diabetes were minor. Characters with diabetes were developed in plots in which the disease "played a more significant role" in films such as Steel Magnolias and Panic Room.[1] Dr. Kevin L. Ferguson discussed such films in the Journal of Medical Humanities and reported, "Films that represent diabetes must work around the disease's banal invisibility, and images of diabetics in film are especially susceptible to metaphor and exaggeration."[2] Everyday Health reported, "Sometimes, filmmakers get it wrong: mixing up different types of diabetes, imagining symptoms or complications that aren't accurate, or unfairly portraying another aspect of the condition."[3]

List of films

[edit]
Film Year Description
12 Feet Deep 2017 The American thriller film features twin sisters who are trapped in a swimming pool under a fiberglass pool cover. One of the sisters has diabetes and needs an insulin shot to avoid slipping into a coma.[4]
150 Milligrams 2017 The French drama film is based on the real-life French pulmonologist Irène Frachon who fought between 2009 and 2011 to reveal that a diabetes drug was life-threatening.[5]
After Dark, My Sweet 1990 A kidnapped child turns out to be diabetic, and after unwittingly feeding him pie, the kidnappers must steal and inject insulin to prevent him from dying (they seem to do so intravenously).[6]
Alma 1999 A documentary film about Alma Thorpe, whose primary condition is schizophrenia, but she also has diabetes.[7]
The Ambulance 1990 A rogue doctor in an ambulance kidnaps people with diabetes for his experiment.[8]
The Baby-Sitters Club 1995 Amidst various interpersonal dramas among the members of the club, Stacey grapples with revealing her diabetes to her older boyfriend, Luca.[9]
Battle Royale II: Requiem 2003 A diabetic schoolgirl is sent on a mission with other students to kill a terrorist but only has three days' worth of insulin with her.[10][11][12][13]
Beats, Rhymes & Life 2011 A documentary film about the band A Tribe Called Quest, including Phife Dawg, who has diabetes.[7]
Big Nothing 2006 In the black comedy film, criminals kill an FBI agent with diabetes by force-feeding him a lollipop.[14]
Bread and Roses 2000 A married couple has financial difficulties because the husband has diabetes.[15]
Brokedown Palace 1999 The father of one of the wrongfully imprisoned women has diabetes.[16]
Broken 2012 The coming-of-age film stars an 11-year-old child who is learning to manage diabetes.[17]
Chocolat 2000 An elderly woman in the film hides her diabetes from her family.[18]
Click 2006 Michael Newman navigates the challenges of work, family, and a magical remote control that controls reality, while also contending with the implications of his father's diabetes-related complications.[19]
Cliffhanger 1993 The female pilot of the criminal gang radios for emergency backup, saying that they need insulin for a person with diabetes.[20]
Con Air 1997 Sgt. Cameron Poe, recently paroled, boards a prison transport plane filled with dangerous convicts that gets hijacked, all while trying to secure insulin for his diabetic cellmate, Mike "Baby-O" O'Dell.[14]
The Confessional 1995 A family mystery is investigated, and hereditary diabetes is a clue in establishing a family link.[21]
A Deadly Adoption 2015 In a parody of melodramatic films screened on the TV network Lifetime, two parents see their daughter fall into a diabetic coma.[22]
Derailed 2005 Charles Schine, an advertising executive, gets entangled in a blackmail scheme after an illicit affair, forcing him to embezzle money intended for his daughter's expensive type 1 diabetes medication.[16]
The Diabetic 2023 A lonely and irreverent 30 year old Type 1 Diabetic named Alek returns to his hometown to re-live his teenage 'glory days.' [23]
Dog Day Afternoon 1975 The manager of the bank at which the robbery takes place has diabetes and is threatened by the hostage taking, as he needs medication.[16]
Fed Up 2014 The documentary film highlights that too much sugar in American diets is a strong reason for the prevalence of diabetes mellitus type 2 in the United States.[24]
The Founder 2016 In the biographical film about the creator of the McDonald's fast food chain, one of the McDonald brothers is hospitalized due to a stress-induced diabetes shock, and founder-to-be Ray Kroc visits him in the hospital to offer to buy out the brothers' restaurant.[25]
The General 1998 The titular Irish crime boss Martin Cahill develops type 2 diabetes.[26]
Gigli 2003 A character with diabetes is helped by another character.[27]
Glory Enough for All 1988 A dramatized account of the discovery of insulin by Frederick Banting and Charles Best researching at the University of Toronto in 1921–22. The film focuses on Elizabeth Hughes, a seriously sick diabetic girl who is one of the first to receive the miracle treatment.[28]
The Godfather Part III 1990 The film's crime boss, Michael Corleone, suffers from diabetes.[7]
Gubra 2006 When a woman's father is hospitalized due to diabetic complications, she meets a man with whom she falls in love.[29]
Half Baked 1998 The stoner comedy film features a horse with diabetes.[7]
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters 2013 As a result of consuming too much candy in Hansel and Gretel, Hansel contracts diabetes and must periodically inject insulin.[30]
The Hospital 1971 Dr. Schaefer, a diabetic, is murdered by an insulin overdose.
It Runs in the Family 2003 The protagonist's wife suffers from complications from diabetes and is on dialysis due to kidney failure.[15]
Jerry and Tom 1998 The film's hitman suffers from diabetes.[26]
Just Before Dawn 1946 A criminal psychologist is tricked into injecting a person with diabetes with poison instead of the insulin needed.[31]
Killers of the Flower Moon 2023 Mollie, and a number of the Osage, have diabetes; Mollie begins treatment with insulin as it is introduced, which is later used to slowly poison her by her husband Ernest Burkhart.
Mad Money 2008 Bridget Cardigan teams up with Nina and Jackie to steal old dollar bills set for destruction at the Federal Reserve Bank, and their heist becomes complicated, with one of the bank robbers suffering from diabetes.[16]
Meeting Daddy 2000 The colonel in the film has diabetes and uses a glucometer to monitor himself.[27]
Memento 2000 In a side plot, a man with amnesia treats his wife with diabetes.[7]
The Next Three Days 2010 A husband attempts an escape plan for his wrongfully imprisoned wife, who has diabetes.[15]
No Good Deed 2002 The film's police officer is shown performing a self-maintenance routine for diabetes.[16]
Nothing in Common 1986 The protagonist's parents divorce, and he learns that his father has diabetes and has been avoiding treatment.[32]
Over the Brooklyn Bridge 1984 The lead character Alby (played by Elliott Gould) has diabetes.[33]
Panic Room 2002 A young girl with diabetes and her mother are trapped in a safe room during a home invasion.[16]
Patch Adams 1998 The comedy-drama film, based on Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams, depicts a scene in which medical residents scrutinize a patient with diabetes, and Adams, unlike the others, asks for the patient's name.[34]
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2009 Paul Blart fails his police exam because of symptoms of diabetes, mainly hypoglycemia.[35]
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 2015 In previous movies, Paul Blart fails his police exam because of symptoms of diabetes, mainly hypoglycemia.[35]
The Planet of Junior Brown 2000 A character with diabetes is helped by another character.[27]
Promised a Miracle 1988 The American television film dramatizes the true story of Christian parents who believed their 11-year-old son's diabetes were healed by God and discarded his insulin, resulting in their son's death.[36]
Regarding Henry 1991 The film's attorney, recovering from a shooting, meets an elderly man with diabetes.[26]
Reversal of Fortune 1990 A husband defends against charges that he killed his wife who had diabetes.[37]
The Right Hand Man 1987 Based on the historical novel The Right-Hand Man, the film is set in Australia in 1860 and features a protagonist with diabetes.[38]
S/O Satyamurthy 2015 A man meets a woman with diabetes and develops a relationship with her.[39]
Scarecrow Gone Wild 2004 A college-age man suffers a diabetic shock as a result of a prank but is resurrected as a killer scarecrow.[7]
Soul Food 1997 A matriarch's refusal to address her diabetes leads to her death and her family falling apart.[19]
Species 1995 An alien seductress rejects and kills a candidate mate because he has diabetes.[7]
Split 2016 One of the multiple personalities played by James McAvoy has diabetes and is shown injecting insulin, while none of the other personalities has diabetes.[40]
State of Emergency 2011 In the horror film, survivors of a zombie outbreak hide in a warehouse. One of the survivors hides her diabetes from the others, but when she falls into a coma, another survivor goes out to find insulin for her.[41]
Steel Magnolias 1989 Set in a close-knit Louisiana community, Shelby battles Type 1 diabetes and its complications, leading her to face life-altering decisions about motherhood, love, and sacrifice, all against the backdrop of the deep bond she shares with her mother, M'Lynn, and their group of supportive friends.[42]
Tammy 2014 After a series of personal mishaps, Tammy embarks on a chaotic road trip with her hard-drinking grandmother Pearl, who has diabetes but defiantly refuses medication, leading them on an adventure filled with mishaps, crimes, and unexpected bonds.[43]
That's My Boy 2012 The comedy film features the relationship between a father and his son. In the son's childhood, he is obese and has diabetes due to his father's lack of care.[44]
This Old Cub 2004 A documentary film about baseball player Ron Santo, who has diabetes.[26]
To Kill a Man 2014 A caretaker of a forest preserve has diabetes; when his medicine is stolen, his son's attempt to recover the medicine leads to the family being terrorized by the criminal gang.[45]
Warlock 1989 A witch-hunter from the 17th century pursues a malevolent warlock to 20th century Los Angeles, and with the help of Kassandra, a woman cursed by the Warlock and who manages her diabetes with insulin, they work to prevent him from reassembling a powerful book that could end Creation.[8]
The Weavers: Wasn't That a Time! 1982 The documentary film shows the band The Weavers, including bass vocalist Lee Hays, who had diabetes.[7]
What Keeps You Alive 2018 In this Canadian thriller, a psychopathic woman with diabetes attacks and (apparently) murders her wife. The victim, however, obtains posthumous revenge by having first poisoned her wife's insulin.[46]
What the Health 2017 The documentary film explores health risks associated with the meat industry and says that several studies show that meat consumption is a leading cause of diabetes.[47]
Who Killed Mary What's 'Er Name? 1971 The film amateur sleuth has diabetes and is helped by another character.[27]
The Witches 1990 The young protagonist's grandmother has diabetes.[15]
Wonderful World 2009 The protagonist's roommate is hospitalized for treatment of a coma due to diabetes. The protagonist falls in love with his roommate's sister, who comes to visit.[48]
Sugarless 2022 The protagonist is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but chooses to conceal it from his lover.[49]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Glick, Deanna (November 1, 2002). "Diabetes in the Movies". Diabetes Health. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  2. ^ Ferguson 2010, p. 183
  3. ^ Vann, Madeline (October 10, 2012). "Diabetes in the Movies: An Accuracy Check". Everyday Health. Everyday Health Media, LLC. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  4. ^ Hamman, Cody (June 20, 2017). "12 Feet Deep: Trapped Sisters (Film Review)". JoBlo.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  5. ^ Lodge, Guy (September 16, 2016). "Film Review: '150 Milligrams'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  6. ^ After Dark, My Sweet (1990) - IMDb, archived from the original on 2012-09-17, retrieved 2021-03-16
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Campbell, Christopher (November 14, 2011). "10 Memorable Diabetic Movie Characters – In Honor of World Diabetes Day". indieWire. Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  8. ^ a b Ferguson 2010, p. 201
  9. ^ Eng, Joyrce (June 17, 2016). "Will There Ever Be a Baby-Sitters Club Sequel?". TV Guide. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  10. ^ Wurm, Gerald. "Battle Royale 2 - Requiem - Schnittbericht: Requiem-Kinofassung (Schnittberichte.com)". www.schnittberichte.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-16. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  11. ^ "It Isn't So Bad…Right? Top 10 Battle Royale II Moments". September 4, 2014. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  12. ^ Yegulalp, Serdar. "Battle Royale II: Requiem (Infinimata Press)". www.infinimata.com. Archived from the original on 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  13. ^ "Battle Royale 2". BADMOVIES. Archived from the original on 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  14. ^ a b Ferguson 2010, p. 191
  15. ^ a b c d "Movies Highlighting Diabetes". dLife. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Ferguson 2010, p. 193
  17. ^ Child, Ben (November 6, 2012). "Broken fixed up with nine British independent film award nominations". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  18. ^ Ferguson 2010, p. 197
  19. ^ a b Ferguson 2010, p. 198
  20. ^ Staff (1998). Winning With Diabetes: Inspiring Stories of Famous and Not-So-Famous People With Diabetes Who Live Life Abundantly. American Diabetes Association. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-945448-97-6.
  21. ^ Dunđerović, Aleksandar (2003). The Cinema of Robert Lepage: The Poetics of Memory. Wallflower Press. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-903364-33-8.
  22. ^ Uhlich, Keith (June 20, 2015). "'A Deadly Adoption': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  23. ^ Stafiej, Mitchell (2022-07-14), The Diabetic (Drama), James Watts, Travis Cannon, Oscar Aguirre, Type One Films, retrieved 2023-09-21
  24. ^ Halter, Reese (May 25, 2014). "Fed Up Spotlights the American Sugar Epidemic". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on May 29, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  25. ^ Reed, Rex (January 24, 2017). "'The Founder' Is Must-See Entertainment, Led by a Magnetic Michael Keaton". Observer.com. Observer Media. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  26. ^ a b c d Ferguson 2010, p. 189
  27. ^ a b c d Ferguson 2010, p. 194
  28. ^ "Glory Enough for All (TV Movie 1988) - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  29. ^ Harvey, Dennis (May 4, 2006). "Review: 'Gubra'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  30. ^ Suebsaeng, Asawin (January 25, 2013). "'Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters' in 3D: Diabetes, Witches, Kung-Fu Witches, and Sex With Witches". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  31. ^ Ferguson 2010, p. 203
  32. ^ Ferguson 2010, p. 199
  33. ^ Canby, Vincent (March 2, 1984). "Screen: 'Brooklyn Bridge'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  34. ^ Bogue, Ernest Grady (2010). The Leadership Choice: Designing Climates of Blame Or Responsibility. WestBow Press. p. 102. ISBN 978-1-4497-0242-7.
  35. ^ a b "LA Youth » Movie review: Paul Blart: Mall Cop". Archived from the original on 2020-02-01. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  36. ^ Mills, Nancy (May 17, 1988). "The Promise of 'Miracle,' a Tragic Tale of Faith Healing". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 25, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
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  38. ^ Goodman, Walter (October 2, 1987). "Film: Rupert Everett in 'The Right Hand Man'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  39. ^ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (April 10, 2015). "S/O Satyamurthy: To keep up a father's honour". The Hindu. Archived from the original on April 10, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  40. ^ "For A Film About Multiple Identities, M. Night Shyamalan's "Split" Can't Find Its Own". Fast Company. 2017-01-20. Archived from the original on 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  41. ^ Idlebrook, Craig (June 25, 2014). "Hollywood Does Diabetes". Insulin Nation. SelfRX. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  42. ^ Ferguson 2010, p. 184
  43. ^ Stevenson, Jane (July 2, 2014). "Vanity not an option for Susan Sarandon in 'Tammy'". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  44. ^ Pols, Mary (June 14, 2012). "That's My Boy: Is Adam Sandler the Man?". Time. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  45. ^ Osenlund, R. Kurt (March 14, 2014). "To Kill a Man | Film Review". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on March 24, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  46. ^ "What Keeps You Alive Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  47. ^ Sainato, Michael (March 20, 2017). "'Cowspiracy' Filmmaker Discusses New Doc on Meat Consumption's Health Risks". Observer. Observer Media. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  48. ^ Holden, Stephen (January 7, 2010). "Crankier Than Thou, but Open to New Love". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  49. ^ Joy, Prathibha (8 July 2022). "Sugarless movie review: Pruthvi Ambaar tries his best to salvage this adult comedy about diabetes". OTTPlay. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.

Bibliography

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