Actor James Norton proudly displayed his glucose monitor and insulin pump after completing his first London Marathon on Sunday, raising funds for diabetes charity Breakthrough T1D. The 40-year-old actor raised an incredible £132,000 for the cause, which is close to his heart following his own diagnosis of type 1 diabetes at age 22. His mother and sister also live with the condition.
Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong autoimmune disease that causes blood glucose levels to become too high when the body cannot produce enough insulin. It is managed through daily insulin injections to keep blood glucose levels under control.
Before the race, Norton admitted he had never run a marathon before and described the idea of running 26 miles as 'crazy.' However, the Happy Valley star completed the intense race in an impressive 4 hours and 29 minutes. On Monday, he took to Instagram to celebrate his achievement, sharing photos of himself holding his medal aloft and beaming with his parents. He also posted a sweet image showing his glucose monitor to a six-year-old girl named Emma, who also has diabetes.
Norton revealed that the physical feat was made even more challenging by a chest infection, which made the race 'pretty gruelling.' Despite this, the House of Guinness star described the experience as 'a mad and beautiful experience' and credited the crowd's support for helping him through.
In a heartfelt message alongside his photos, Norton thanked donors and highlighted the importance of the cause for young diabetics and their families. 'Did it. Just,' he wrote. 'Had a chest infection which made it pretty gruelling, but the incredible support from the crowds carried me to the finish line. So much love and sweat and tears. A mad and beautiful experience.' He added a huge thank you to everyone who donated, noting that with additional support from the Bukhman Foundation, the total had reached £132,000 and counting. 'This money will go towards supporting young diabetics across the county, but also each pound raised gets us closer to the cure that all of us Type 1 Diabetics so desperately want, including my mum, my sister and this brave little girl in the above photo called Emma, who is 6 years old, but was diagnosed when she was only 2.'
He also thanked the technology that kept him safe: 'I wear a Dexcom G7 monitor and an Omnipod 5 pump 24 hours a day... they were especially important during the marathon, keeping my glucose levels in range and therefore keeping me safe.' He concluded with love for fellow T1D warriors.
Norton has been an outspoken campaigner for diabetes awareness since his diagnosis. He experienced symptoms such as weight loss, frequent urination, and fatigue before being diagnosed. He has since referred to the condition as his 'mini-superpower,' giving him 'extraordinary sympathy' for anyone who feels different.
Last year, the McMafia star revealed that his diabetes once caused 'pandemonium' at a star-studded event when his blood sugar plummeted. While attending the 2024 GQ Men of the Year Awards, he dosed insulin expecting a carbohydrate-heavy meal but was served a low-carb starter followed by a long wait. As speeches began, his blood sugar crashed. He recalled being 'dripping with sweat' and rushing to a waiter, saying, 'I'm diabetic. You need to help me. I need some orange juice really quickly, please.' After receiving juice and a Pret chocolate bar, a bowl of steaming potatoes was rushed to his table during Jude Law's speech, making him look like a 'potato-loving glutton.'
Norton now uses a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that tracks blood sugar levels and sends real-time alerts to his phone. Before using CGM, he experienced extreme overnight hypos that would wake him in a state of panic and confusion. He described waking up 'in a sweaty mess, discombobulated, disoriented, scared.' The monitoring technology has been transformative, allowing him to sleep better and feel more controlled. 'You cannot underestimate how much difference Dexcom gives you in your life. It's huge. It gives you power. It gives you freedom from diabetes,' he said.
His mother and sister also use Dexcom, leading to humorous moments at the kitchen table when alarms go off. Despite the visible sensor, Norton said it doesn't interfere with his lifestyle or physical activities like swimming or running. However, he admitted it can be hard to hide during screen and stage productions, especially in nude scenes. In the play A Little Life (2023), he had to cover the sensor with a skin-colored bandage, which the sound guy called his 'puck.' He also recalled stitching special pockets into costumes to hold sugar tablets during period plays.
Norton has spoken about the anxiety and 'existential dread' that comes with low glucose. In 2017, he explained that adrenaline on stage can affect his sugar levels, requiring careful anticipation. During a 2011 production of Journey's End, a co-star thought he was going into diabetic shock, leading to improvised offerings of Lucozade in a teacup and biscuits on stage.
