Halle Berry is an award-winning American actress known for her roles in “Monster’s Ball,” “Catwoman,” “Die Another Day,” and other popular films. Berry was the first Black woman to win an Oscar Award for Best Actress.

In addition to her acting career, Berry is known for possibly curing her type 1 diabetes — or so she’s said in interviews. In this article, we review Berry’s diabetes claims to help you separate fact from fiction. If you have questions about your diabetes diagnosis or treatment plan, talk to your health care provider.

1. You Cannot Cure Type 1 Diabetes Through Diet

Berry made headlines in 2007 when she announced that she cured herself of type 1 diabetes by changing her diet. While diet is important for managing this chronic autoimmune disease, type 1 diabetes is not curable through diet — or at all.

Here are some facts:

• Type 1 diabetes is not a lifestyle disease.
• Type 1 diabetes develops when the pancreas does not make enough insulin.
• There is no cure for type 1 diabetes.
• Changing your diet will not cure type 1 diabetes.
• Limiting carbohydrates can help you stabilize your blood glucose levels.

Although diet can’t cure type 1 diabetes, choosing your foods carefully can help you manage the disease. If you need help creating a healthy diet after a diabetes diagnosis, talk to your health care provider or a registered dietitian.

2. You Cannot Stop Using Insulin if You Have Type 1 Diabetes

Berry slipped into a diabetic coma while working on the television show “Living Dolls” in 1989. She was 22 years old and said she had recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Years later, Berry decided that she had type 2 diabetes because she was no longer insulin dependent. According to one ABC News article, Berry said, “I’ve managed to wean myself off insulin, so now I’d like to put myself in the type 2 category.”

Here are some facts:

• People with type 1 diabetes need insulin to survive.
• Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are different types of diabetes with different causes.
• You cannot decide which type of diabetes you have.
• If you have type 1 diabetes, trying to wean yourself off insulin may kill you.

Do not stop taking insulin or adjust your dosage without talking to your health care provider. Doing so can be life-threatening or cause serious damage to your body.

3. The Keto Diet May Help Type 2 Diabetes

In 2018, several years after deciding she had type 2 diabetes instead of type 1, Berry claimed she had reversed her type 2 diabetes by following the ketogenic diet. Also known as the keto diet, this diet is high in fat and low in carbohydrates. Meat, fish, and nonstarchy vegetables are staples of the ketogenic diet. With this claim, Berry may be onto something.

Here are some facts:

• Type 2 diabetes is not curable, but some people achieve a long remission.
• The keto diet may offer benefits for people with type 2 diabetes.
• The keto diet can help manage blood sugar levels and promote weight loss.
• The keto diet may not be safe for people with heart disease.
• The benefits of the keto diet for people with type 1 diabetes are inconclusive.

The keto diet may help you manage type 2 diabetes, but it’s not safe for everyone. Talk to your doctor before making any changes to your diet.

4. Some People With Diabetes Are Misdiagnosed

When Berry announced she had cured herself of type 1 diabetes, doctors and others in the diabetes community quickly spoke up to counter her claim. Several doctors told ABC News that Berry was likely “mistaken, misinformed, or misdiagnosed,” according to a 2007 article. Some suspected she had type 2 diabetes all along.

It’s also possible that Berry had MODY (maturity-onset diabetes of the young), a type of diabetes that does not always require insulin. Now more commonly referred to as monogenic diabetes, MODY shares some symptoms with type 1 diabetes, including high blood sugar.

Here are some facts:

• There are multiple types of diabetes.
• It’s possible to be misdiagnosed.
• Diet cannot cure type 1 diabetes because it’s an autoimmune disease.
• Diet and weight loss can help reverse type 2 diabetes for some people.
• Your prognosis and treatment plan depend on which type of diabetes you have.

Only health care professionals can make an accurate diabetes diagnosis. It’s not a condition that can be self-diagnosed. If you have questions about your diagnosis or think you may have been misdiagnosed, get a second opinion.

5. Your Doctor Is Your Best Source of Information

Whether you’re reading health information through celebrity social media posts, health influencer podcasts, or online searches, it is essential to validate the information before using it to make decisions about your health.

If you read something about type 1 diabetes that interests you, talk to your health care provider. They can answer your questions, tell you whether the information is accurate and the source is reliable, and offer additional diabetes management and lifestyle tips.

While Hollywood stars like Halle Berry and other celebrities often have public platforms to share their thoughts, favorite products, and more, remember that most celebrities are not medical professionals. They might not intentionally try to deceive their fans, but they could be misinformed.

Also, with recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI), it can be increasingly difficult to tell whether a claim you’re reading is from a celebrity or has just been made to look that way. An increase in celebrity impersonation scams is another reason to check with your doctor before believing something you read online.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myT1Dteam, the social network for people with type 1 diabetes and their loved ones, more than 3,600 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with type 1 diabetes.

Have you seen health claims by celebrities that you found out later aren’t accurate? Share your experience in the comments below or on your Activities page.