Crystal Bowersox fans, and many in the diabetic community that were rooting for her to win American Idol, were disappointed on Wednesday night when Lee DeWyse was named the winner of this season’s competition. Nonetheless, despite the loss, Bowersox’ stellar performance this season has been a source of inspiration for many and a boon to diabetes awareness.
After being rushed to the hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis in March, a potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes, Bowersox bounced back to make it to the finals. Judi Clapper, a 60 year old diabetic, who watched the live season finale while sitting in one of the bars Bowersox performed at when she was just 14 said that Bowersox gives hope to kids with diabetes “that there’s more to life than shots and insulin pumps,” according to a report from the Associated Press.
Bowersox has generally not been overly vocal about her diabetes, but her presence and excellence on the show has provided a boost to diabetes awareness.
Also this week on American Idol, recently crowned Celebrity Apprentice Bret Michaels, who has made an amazing comeback from several serious medical issues, made a surprise appearance on stage to sing his Poison hit “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” with eliminated Idol contestant Casey James. Check out a video below.
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Sorry … I became anti-Bowersox after I found out it was DKA that put her in the hospital AND she has an insulin pump. She’s not a child. She has the tools. If the pump wasn’t working, she should have been testing enough to notice. If she was sick, she should have been testing enough to notice. If the stress was getting to her (and producing adrenalin, cortisol, insulin resistance etc), she should have noticed AND stopped.
Not an Elliot Yamin fan either … he went on a vacation outside the US with just one week worth of supplies, got caught in an earthquake and … oh golly, wasn’t prepared.
Absolutely stupidity – not “hope”!