Casey Johnson was an heiress to the Johnson & Johnson family through her father, Woody Johnson. Woody (Robert Wood Johnson IV), is the great-grandson of Robert Wood Johnson I who founded the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical company.
Casey Johnson was a beautiful girl but unfortunately she became ill from diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and died at the young age of 30 in 2010. According to the Cleveland Clinic, diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious and life-threatening, but treatable, complication that affects people with diabetes and those who have undiagnosed diabetes. Diabetes-related ketoacidosis occurs when your body doesn’t have enough insulin (a hormone that’s either produced by your pancreas or injected). Your body needs insulin to turn glucose, your body’s go-to source of fuel, into energy. If there’s no insulin or not enough insulin, your body starts breaking down fat for energy instead. As fat is broken down, ketones are released into the bloodstream. If left untreated, diabetes-related ketoacidosis results in death.
Casey was diagnosed with diabetes at age eight. She was very involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and at age 14 she co-wrote a book about diabetes management. For a person with diabetes, a high amount of ketones causes their blood to become acidic (the blood pH is too low). This creates an emergency medical situation that requires immediate attention and treatment.
Casey moved to California from her home in New Jersey. She wanted to explore a fun life and new career. But having diabetes can be hard on anyone. Casey’s diabetes required her to keep up with her medication, doctor’s visits, and a healthy lifestyle. It is thought that she had been dead for up to 7 days before she was found.
If you have diabetes, it’s a good idea to keep in touch with family and friends or wear a life alert monitor in case you can’t call for help. Many things can have an impact on health including depression, alcohol, stress, and situations where we feel less than eager to care for our health. But remembering that many people feel the same way can help a loved one reach out when it’s life-threatening. If you know someone who can’t afford care, there are communities that provide free care for diabetes.
In memory of Casey Johnson, please visit:
American Diabetes Association, diabetes.org
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, jdrf.org
Casey had a tough time when she came to Los Angeles. She wanted to find her way but it didn’t end well. RIP Casey Johnson