Bret Michaels

A Rock Star, a TV Celebrity, a Father Living with Type 1 Diabetes

Bret Michaels was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 6 years old, but that hasn’t stopped him from living a “ridiculously outrageous, crazy life.”   

Michaels is a busy man.  He’s the front man of the glam rock band Poison and is now touring to promote his solo album, “Custom Built,” which comes out in June.  Michaels also recently released a new single, "Nothing to Lose," featuring Miley Cyrus, and just finished making a music video with Rihanna.   

When he’s not on performing on stage, you can see Michaels on TV.  Michaels gained a new generation of fans from the VH1 reality show Rock of Love and his boardroom chats with Donald Trump on NBC's Celebrity Apprentice.  

Michaels recently won NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" and raised $390,000 for the American Diabetes Association. For his efforts, Bret was awarded with the American Diabetes Association's Chair's Citation Awardin recognition of his passion and commitment in raising awareness about diabetes and helping to stop this deadly disease.  

In April, he spoke with Diabetes Forecast about his music, his diabetes, and his TV career.  

To read the original interview, visit the Diabetes Forecast website.  

Diabetes Forecast:

You talk about your diabetes on Rock of Love and Celebrity Apprentice. Why do you want to let the world see this side of you?

Bret Michaels:

There is no doubt that a huge part of who and what I am is that I'm a diabetic. i have great days and I have bad days. I want to say, look, there are complications and it is a tough disease to manage, but I've done it, and I live a ridiculously outrageous, crazy life.

I still race around on a BMX bike and I'm 47; I will compete with kids and win. I go out there and try not to let [diabetes] get me down. It's mind, muscle, music, and motivation over matter.

You can have all the doctors, but unless you can self-motivate, no one can make you exercise or take your [insulin] shot at the right time or use your pump right. Find that one thing [that motivates you]. Like making sure I'm around to watch my daughters grow up.

Diabetes Forecast:

What are your tips for keeping diabetes under control while keeping a hectic schedule?

Bret Michaels:

I'm a really motivated, passionate person, and I find a way. I wish I knew a magic formula. It depends on self-motivation and how much you want to take on. You have to decide what works best for your life.

Like this week, I've got to fly back while I'm doing a show because we're doing a new Rihanna [music] video. I fly in, then fly back out after five shows in a row. It gets tough, the blood sugars fluctuate, but I find a way. I'm going to have to get up earlier, get on the mountain bike, work out, get my blood sugar right, and go and do it. I want to do it.

Diabetes Forecast:

Tell us about your diabetes management.

Bret Michaels:

About six to eight blood sugar tests and four shots per day have been working for me. I wake up—whether it's 8 a.m. or noon—and the first thing I do is test my blood sugar. I notice I'm high or low and adjust my insulin accordingly. I eat egg whites with turkey or chicken in one of those burrito wraps, and throw in a little fresh fruit. One thing I've learned about diabetes is to really lessen the portions you eat. If I could cut loose, I'd eat potato chips from day to night. I have to mentally fight it.

I exercise right after that. If I'm on the bike, I turn my cell on and do a bunch of business calls so I don't realize I've ridden for an hour. Then I lift weights or whatever. Find whatever motivates you—go out and play hoops, just find a way to exercise. It's not been a joy ride for me. I don't want people to think I wake up at 105 [mg/dl] and life's a breeze. I just find a way to control it. You have to accept that you have diabetes because it is the card you've been dealt.

Diabetes Forecast:

What was it like leading the first task for the men’s team on Celebrity Apprentice?

Bret Michaels:

In some ways I think it was great because that is sort of the story of my life: I was running on a fume; I literally played León, Mexico, the night before. I got in and found out the opposing team will pick who they want to be team leader. I said, "Guys, trust me, they'll pick me. They know I'm tired. If they've seen Rock of Love, they'll think I'm one and done." [But] they forgot one thing: I spend most of my life running on a fume. Now I was fighting mad. I'm fighting for diabetes not only personally for me—I've had type 1 since I was 6—but [for] my daughter Raine.

Diabetes Forecast:

And you won $100,000 for the American Diabetes Association.

Bret Michaels:

What an amazing win. I was glad I wasn't first to be fired. Most importantly, the whole purpose was to raise money for diabetes—not only awareness but for the charity. I think one of the biggest parts of diabetes—while we’re looking for a cure—is to help people who have already got it.

Diabetes Forecast:

How about when you got the phone call that Raine was being tested for diabetes?

Bret Michaels:

I literally found out while I was [filming Apprentice], and it left me at a big fork in the road: As a responsible father, you leave [the show] then and there, but at same time I knew this was the whole purpose. The irony is I'm fighting to show people you can live a great, normal life with diabetes.

Diabetes Forecast:

With the TV shows, a new album, touring—what has meant the most to you?

Bret Michaels:

I love being a father to my daughters Raine [9] and Jorja [4]. And their mother, Kristi [Gibson], is a huge part of my life. My most important thing is making sure my daughters know their dad loves them. So I make every effort to be home, fly them out with me, and make sure they're doing well in school.

Diabetes Forecast:

How has your work on television affected your music and fan base?

Bret Michaels:

Poison had two generations [of fans]—the original, and the college generation. With Rock of Love and Miley and Rihanna, and I did Guitar Hero 3, all of a sudden we've opened up to this third generation of young fans. Also, I did Nashville Star with LeAnn Rimes, so we opened up to country fans.

Diabetes Forecast:

Have you ever had a severe low during a concert? Do you do anything special to prepare for a show?

Bret Michaels:

I try to let my blood sugar slide up a little bit before I go onstage, like 150 to 170, because it comes down dramatically while I'm performing. My first time ever playing Madison Square Garden, I went into insulin shock on stage.

When you grow up on the East Coast all you hear is, "When you make it, kid, you play the Garden." My first time ever, I was so excited and nervous. I took my insulin but didn't eat. I woke up in the emergency room, and I was, like, what just happened?

Diabetes Forecast:

You said in a Forecast interview, "Humor is essential to winning with diabetes." How do you use humor?

Bret Michaels:

When I get overly stressed, my blood sugar can spike. It can go from 120 to 280 just over being stressed out about something—nothing to do with food—and I think in my situation being able to laugh at things that happen [is key]. To trip over my own two feet and laugh at it has helped me to maintain my blood sugar.

The other day we were playing a show and we were in the middle of it, and I said, "Forgive me, everyone." I told them to enjoy a song from my band, and I went and checked blood sugar. Rather than freaking or hiding it, I just took care of it. The arena laughed, I took some juice, and I came back on stage.