In a world where rock stars are often celebrated for their wild lifestyles, Pete Doherty has always walked that fine line—between genius and chaos. Recently, the Libertines frontman delivered a sobering health update to fans, revealing that a doctor has warned him he could face amputation if he doesn’t take necessary precautions. Talk about a serious reality check! While he joked about being “healthier on heroin” than dealing with the aftermath of his current medical issues, he’s been candid about the toll his past choices have taken on his body. Using a walking stick and performing from a chair, Doherty shared his struggle with type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol, reminding us that the rock ‘n’ roll life can come at a price. So, how much of our self-destructive tendencies are we willing to overlook before it catches up to us? To dive deeper into Pete’s journey and recent revelations, LEARN MORE.
Pete Doherty told some of his fans that he’s having to take precautions after a doctor warned him that he could need to have part of his body amputated.
According to The Sun, Doherty was speaking to fans in Germany and explained why he was performing from a chair during Libertines performances.
They report that he said: “I saw the doctor today and he said you need to stay off your feet as much as you can otherwise you’ll lose your toes.”
He has also been spotted using a walking stick while out and about, while Libertines bandmate Carl Barât was spotted helping him leave the stage during a recent concert.
Last year Doherty told The Guardian he’d been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and was struggling to ‘tackle cholesterol’.
Pete Doherty told fans he needs to look after his toes (Mark Holloway/Redferns)
“I gave up the main poisons and my health improved,” Doherty said last year of his health prospects and the difficulties about changing his ways.
“Then you get told alcohol and cheese and sugar are just as bad and you were healthier when you were on heroin.
“It’s not a joke, I’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. And at the moment I’m lacking the discipline to tackle cholesterol.”
His bandmate Barât was in the same interview and said it was ‘gluttony’, which Doherty accepted as he said he was ‘a bit of a glutton’.
Back in 2023, the musician said he could feel ‘death is lurking’ after many years of drug and alcohol abuse.
Studies indicate that drug use can increase a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes through the impact they have on a person’s blood sugar and the way it affects their diet and movement.
Doherty has spoken a lot about his health, and how his life has impacted him (Mark Holloway/Redferns)
A loss of extremities from diabetes is a risk as it can affect blood flow in your body.
In 2022, Doherty told The Mirror that his drug use had also put him at risk of losing his feet ‘just because of the injecting.
“I was really pushing the limits. There were a few close calls really,” he said of his past drug use.
“I nearly lost my feet and horrible things like that.
“It was very close, just because of the injecting. That’s what happens when you run out of veins. It all seems so long ago now though but it was a hell of a ride.”
The musician has spoken a lot about his health in recent years, having told Louis Theroux he was a ‘very sick man’ and expressed concern that he might not live long enough to see his daughter grow up.
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Topics: Celebrity, Health, Music, Drugs, Food And Drink