Lance Bass of *NSYNC, Says He Was Diagnosed With Diabetes During Covid

If you were a teen girl any time during the late 1990's-early 2000's then you've likely heard of Lance Bass, best known for being one of 5 members of the famous boy band, NYSNC. In his years since, Lance has continued to have a successful career as a singer, actor, producer and television personality. 

In the spring of 2022, Lance announced that he had been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, an autoimmune disease, in 2017.

What is Psoriatic Arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects some people living with psoriasis, a chronic skin condition characterized by red, itchy, and scaly patches. Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, in this case, the joints and skin.

 

Lance told People Magazine, "I had symptoms before, but you know, I kind of just dealt with it, not knowing exactly what it was. I was a dancer my whole life, so I just figured it was because of dancing," the singer said, adding that he noticed patches of psoriasis on his scalp while also dealing with excruciating joint pain.

"It definitely started in my shoulders and then in my knees," he continues. "And again, to me, that was just such a sign of dancer pain, so I just thought it was completely normal, totally ignoring the signs."

Lance Bass Announces Diabetes Diagnosis 

In early 2024, Lance announced that he had been diagnosed with diabetes during the Covid Pandemic and that he was using insulin to help manage his disease. Bass didn't divulge whether he was living with Type 1 Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes, however studies show that people living with psoriatic arthritis are up to 60% more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes than the general population. 

While the exact reason isn't known, it's believed that people with psoriatic arthritis are at a higher risk of developing diabetes due to inflammation in the body. Immune system proteins known as cytokines can trigger higher levels of inflammation in people with PsA which can then lead to higher blood sugar levels and thus insulin resistance. 

Medications used to treat psoriatic arthritis can also affect blood sugar and insulin levels leading to the development of Type 2 Diabetes. 

On the other hand, once a person is diagnosed with one autoimmune disease, such as psoriatic arthritis in Lance's case, they have a 25% chance of developing additional autoimmune diseases, such a Type 1 Diabetes.

Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

So what is the different between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?

• Type 1 Diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The exact cause of this autoimmune reaction is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental triggers, such as viral infections.
• Type 2 Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, where the body's cells become less responsive to insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. It is often associated with lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity and poor dietary habits. Genetic factors also play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes is most often diagnosed in childhood while Type 2 Diabetes is most often diagnosed in adulthood. However, it's important to note that either type of diabetes may be diagnosed at any age. With Type 1 Diabetes, the pancreas creates little to no insulin so insulin injections must be taken. Type 2 Diabetes on the other hand does not always require insulin and may instead be managed by oral medications and lifestyle habits like heatlhy diet, exercise and sleep patterns.