Eric Stonestreet, who played Cam in Modern Family, opens up about Type 2 Diabetes and weight loss

Actor Eric Stonestreet, best known for playing Cam on Modern Family, recently opened up about his Type 2 diabetes diagnosis and health journey. In a candid interview with People, published on Thursday, May 1, the actor confessed feeling "embarrassed" and not telling anybody about the diagnosis for a long time.

Stonestreet found out about his Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) in 2009, the same time he landed the role of Cameron Tucker a.k.a. Cam. Recalling the moment, he told the outlet:

"It was like this crazy happy moment cut with this diagnosis that I truthfully didn't take very seriously."

The actor elaborated:

"I had a doctor that sent me on my way with a couple pills and said, ‘Take care.' No inspiring moment of ‘You need to seize the day and change this,’ which I guess technically isn't their responsibility, but I just didn't do anything about it."

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the condition occurs when one has persistently high blood sugar levels. As a result, the body can use and/or produce insulin properly. If left unchecked, it can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. In the United States, of the 37 million people having diabetes, over 90% have T2D.

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"I would hide my injectables and my pills from her" — Eric Stonestreet on keeping his T2D diagnosis from fiancée Lindsay Schweitzer

Talking to People magazine, Eric Stonestreet expressed feeling ashamed at the diagnosis. He admitted to keeping the news from his family and friends. This included his parents, who also have T2D, his two best friends, and his now-fiancée Lindsay Schweitzer. According to the outlet, the actor informed Schweitzer a few years into their relationship. Eric Stonestreet told People:

"I would hide my injectables and my pills from her. I didn't want her to open the fridge and see something in there."

Discussing what made him realize the seriousness of his condition, Stonestreet noted that the first thought that came to his mind was of his late father, who dealt with diabetic neuropathy. While he passed away from leukemia, it was the neuropathy that was "very painful." The actor explained:

"I just decided, well, I can't go down that road." 

Another thought on Stonestreet's mind was not being there for Schweitzer’s 13-year-old twin sons. The actor saw the twins as his own, as he had known them since they were 3. The need to be "around" the kids, like any parent would wish for, was a deciding factor for him.

According to People, Stonestreet tried several treatments and medications, none of which were as effective as Mounjaro, and the actor took the recommendation of his endocrinologist. Per Healthline, Mounjaro is an FDA-approved prescription drug containing tirzepatide taken as an injection. It helps manage blood sugar levels. It is sometimes prescribed "off-label" for weight management.

Eric Stonestreet shared he had been taking the medication since it hit the market in 2022. Calling it a "game changer," he told People:

"It has just been incredible. It's changed my lifestyle, changed my approach to eating, changed my approach to exercise."

 

 

 

 

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The actor, along with his mother, has since become a spokesperson for Eli Lilly and Company, the brand that manufactures Mounjaro. He told People:

"There's a pep in my step." 

Recalling walking through the airport with his bags recently, Eric Stonestreet noted that he left lighter on his feet. He added that it felt good.

In a separate interview with Eating Well, Stonestreet revealed that talking about his diagnosis was "important." He explained that it helped him find a "partner" who nudged him into being "more accountable."

According to a May 2025 article by USA Today, the actor's Modern Family co-star Jesse Tyler Ferguson was the only cast member to know about his T2D. Elaborating on him wanting to keep it to himself, the outlet relayed that he felt "embarrassed". At one point, he even found it difficult to watch his own performances as he didn't "like looking at (him)self."

However, the actor is hopeful that his co-stars will be happy for him. Eric Stonestreet noted:

"I'm always going to be a big-boned, Kansas, corn-fed dude... But clothes fit better, which is exciting. I'm going down in size, which is exciting."

Per USA Today, the actor acknowledged the stigma surrounding drugs like Mounjaro, adding that he was expecting mean comments. But he hoped that by coming forward, those in similar situations would realize that there was no shame in taking them responsibly.