Patron Saint of Diabetes: St. Josemaría Escrivá and a Prayer

The saint most widely invoked as the patron of people with diabetes is St. Josemaría Escrivá (1902–1975), the Spanish priest who founded Opus Dei and who lived with severe diabetes for about ten years before it suddenly disappeared in 1954. The patronage comes from popular devotion rather than a papal decree, but many people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, their families and their doctors ask for his prayers. His feast day is June 26. Below are his story, Scripture for times of illness, and prayers for people living with diabetes, for children with type 1 diabetes and for caregivers.

A short prayer for someone with diabetes, written for this page:

St. Josemaría, you knew the daily burden of diabetes.
Pray for me, that I may have the strength and discipline to care for my body,
peace on the hard days, and trust in God’s love every day. Amen.

St. Josemaría Escrivá and his diabetes

Josemaría Escrivá was born in Barbastro, Spain, in 1902 and ordained a priest in 1925. On October 2, 1928, he founded Opus Dei, which teaches that ordinary work and daily life can be a path to holiness. In the 1940s he developed serious diabetes. For about ten years he lived on a strict diet and daily insulin injections and suffered many of the illness’s effects, while carrying on a very heavy workload.

On April 27, 1954, the feast of Our Lady of Montserrat, he had a severe allergic reaction after an insulin injection and lost consciousness. When he recovered, his diabetes was gone, and it never returned; he attributed the cure to the Blessed Virgin. He died in Rome on June 26, 1975, and St. John Paul II canonized him on October 6, 2002. Because of his long experience of the illness, he has become the patron of people with diabetes.

Scripture in illness

The Book of Ecclesiasticus teaches us both to pray and to care for our health (Ecclesiasticus 38:9, Douay-Rheims):

My son, in thy sickness neglect not thyself, but pray to the Lord, and he shall heal thee.

The same chapter honors physicians as instruments of God’s healing. Praying for healing never replaces medical care: keep following your doctor’s advice, and pray for your medical team too.

Prayers for people with diabetes

Written for this page.

For daily strength

Lord, give me patience with the checks, the shots, the counting and the waiting.
When I am tired of managing this illness, carry me.
Help me to treat my body with care, as a gift from you. Amen.

For a child with type 1 diabetes

St. Josemaría, pray for my child.
Protect them day and night, give them courage and a normal, happy childhood,
and give us, their parents, wisdom, calm and rest. Amen.

For someone newly diagnosed

Lord, this diagnosis frightens me.
Help me to learn what I need to know, to make the changes I need to make,
and to trust that you are with me. Amen.

For caregivers, doctors and nurses

Lord, bless all who care for people with diabetes.
Give them knowledge, patience and compassion,
and reward their work with your healing. Amen.

For a cure

Lord, bless the researchers who are working to cure diabetes.
Guide their work and bring it quickly to success. Amen.

Other saints for the sick

Our Lady of Lourdes, patroness of the sick. See Our Lady of Lourdes.
St. Luke, the beloved physician. See the St. Luke prayer.
St. Peregrine, patron of people with cancer and chronic illness. See the St. Peregrine prayer.
See all the patron saints of healing.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the patron saint of diabetes?

St. Josemaría Escrivá, who suffered from diabetes for about ten years, is widely invoked as patron of people with diabetes.

How was St. Josemaría cured of diabetes?

On April 27, 1954, after a severe reaction to an insulin injection, he recovered and his diabetes was gone. He attributed the cure to Our Lady.

Patron Saint of Diabetes: St. Josemaría Escrivá and Prayers for People With Diabetes