Nick Jonas uses the pen, the press, and politicians to bring awareness to diabetic research

August 20, 6:30 PMCleveland Literature ExaminerScott Barr

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The Jonas Brothers’ performance on August 2, 2008 – a Saturday night – was a typical one, if there is such a thing to their fans. It was typical, that is, until the youngest brother, Nick, who is afflicted with type-1 diabetes, fell ill onstage. The live performance was stalled while his brothers Kevin and Joe had to distract the audience as the Jonas Brothers entourage came to the pop star’s rescue. Medical assistance was rendered and the show continued once Nick’s blood sugar was brought back to normal.

                                                                                                                                                                                        
The Jonas Brother’s dad, Kevin Sr., spoke out about Nick’s illness in a recent issue of Rolling Stone magazine. He said he found it hard to believe that there were some people who discounted his son’s continual battle with his diabetic condition. “Frustrating” was the word he used to describe how he felt when he’s heard people belittle diabetes as a minor problem since it is maintainable, and he added that everybody on the tour team is on constant Nick watch in case the danger signs begin to show while he's performing. In the same interview Nick revealed that he now has an insulin pump and catheter attached to his back when he performs so he can stabilize the insulin levels in his system throughout shows. Problem under control, for the moment.
 

But it’s not the end of Nick Jonas’ work on the part of diabetics like himself. He has taken his case to Washington, to the White House in fact, where he spoke with President Barack Obama, then met with Frank R. Lautenberg, a U.S. Senator from Nick’s home state of New Jersey, then spoke before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on juvenile diabetes.

On August 24 Nick is going to take his message to National Press Club members at a luncheon in Washngton. The group invited him to speak on behalf of juvenile diabetics because of his personal commitment to raise awareness about the malady. The Press Club also cited the song ‘A Little Bit Longer’ which Nick wrote to inspire others with diabetes to live their lives as normally and fully as they can. The also made note of the Jonas Brother’ Change for the Children Foundation, a support program Nick founded with his brothers Kevin and Joe to motivate children to face the diversity of being diabetic, raise money and draw attention to other programs for diabetics.

Burning Up: On Tour with the Jonas Brothers (Hyperion, 2008) by Kevin, Nick and Joe Jonas is an insider’s view to what it’s like to be on tour with the brothers. Besides the glossy photographs of the brothers warming up, performing, and having fun backstage there is plenty of candid writing by all three brothers about what it was like to be on their “Look Me in the Eyes” tour. Not only is it a chronicle of the Jonas Brothers taking the world by musical storm, it’s probably the closest a fan will get to understanding what it was like for Nick to tour while dealing with type 1 diabetes.