Does Serena Williams have diabetes?

Many people wonder if Serena Williams, the famous tennis champion, has diabetes. The good news is that Serena Williams does not have diabetes. However, her health journey is very interesting and important to learn about. Let's explore what actually happened with her health and why she decided to take special medicine to feel better.​

You May Also Like: Serena Williams Weight Loss Before and After

The Truth About Serena's Health

Serena Williams is a healthy person who has never been diagnosed with diabetes. She is the mother of two beautiful daughters and has always been very strong and athletic. However, after having her children, she had some health challenges that needed attention.​

The tennis legend struggled with her weight after becoming a mother. She tried everything—running, walking, biking, and even playing professional tennis—but her body would not respond the way she wanted. She would do 30,000 steps every single day but could not lose weight. This made her joints hurt when she played tennis, and she felt uncomfortable in her body.​

Even though Serena is super fit and a champion athlete, her body was doing something unusual. No matter what exercises she did or what healthy foods she ate, the weight stayed on. This is why doctors sometimes say that weight loss is not always about willpower or trying harder—it can be about how our bodies are made.​

What Medicine Did Serena Take?

In August 2025, Serena told the world that she had been taking a special medicine called GLP-1 medication. The most famous type she used is called Zepbound. This is not a diabetes medicine that she needed because she is sick. Instead, it is a weight-loss medicine that helps control hunger and helps people feel full.​

GLP-1 medicines work by making changes in the body's hormones. These medicines help the pancreas release more insulin, which controls blood sugar. They also slow down digestion so you feel full longer and have fewer cravings. They make your brain feel satisfied with smaller portions of food.​

Serena started taking this medicine in the summer of 2024 but was not consistent at first. Then, in January 2025, she started taking it regularly with help from a doctor through a telehealth company called Ro. Telehealth means she could talk to a doctor over the computer from home.​

Why Did She Need This Medicine?

Here is the important part: Serena did not need this medicine because she had diabetes or was sick. She chose to take it because she wanted to feel healthy and strong again. Many people think GLP-1 medicine is just for losing weight to look good, but that is not always true.​

For Serena, this medicine was a tool to help her body work better. She said, "I've never been about shortcuts, not in my career, and not in my health. I'm on a GLP-1 because it was the right tool to help me feel healthy". She wanted to take care of herself and choose health.​

After having her second baby, Adira, in 2023, Serena found it even harder to lose weight. She tried everything but her body just would not cooperate. After she stopped breastfeeding, about six months after her baby was born, she decided to try this medicine.​

What Happened After She Took the Medicine?

The results were amazing! Serena lost 31 pounds by August 2025. But the best part was not just the weight loss. She felt so much better in many ways. Her joints stopped hurting, so simple things like getting up and sitting down became easy again.​

Serena also got her blood sugar under control. Even though she did not have diabetes, her blood sugar levels were not at their best. The medicine helped fix this. She now uses a special device called a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) that tracks her blood sugar all day long. This helps her understand which foods make her body feel good.​

She also said she feels "light physically and light mentally". This means her body feels lighter and so does her mind. She has more energy to play with her daughters and do activities she loves. Her joints don't hurt anymore, and she can run farther than before.​

Important Lessons From Serena's Story

Serena's experience teaches us something very important: medicine is not a shortcut, it is a tool. She says, "If you're on GLP-1s too, don't let anybody tell you it's the 'easy way out.' You're not taking a shortcut, you're taking care of yourself".​

Even though some people thought she was taking the easy way, that is not true. Serena still eats healthy foods, exercises every day, and takes care of herself. The medicine just helped her body work better so all her hard work could show results.​

Serena also wants people to know that it's okay to ask for help. She is the strongest woman in tennis, but she still asked doctors to help her feel healthy. There is nothing wrong with getting help when you need it.​

Finally, Serena teaches us that taking care of our health is powerful. She said, "Taking care of yourself isn't a weakness, it's a power". Whether we need medicine or not, doing what makes us feel healthy and strong is always the right choice.​