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Holly Johnson opens up about life with HIV

British pop star Holly Johnson has opened up about living with HIV, insisting he is amazed he is still alive 23 years after his diagnosis. The former Frankie Goes to Hollywood frontman was diagnosed with the illness in 1991 and thought he would be the latest in a long line of famous faces who fell victim to AIDS.
However, the development of medications to control the illness means Johnson is living with the disease, and he has now detailed the effects it has on his life.
He tells The Observer Magazine, “A considerable amount of effort goes into it. I live like a nun. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I haven’t done for years. I take copious amounts of vitamins and medications. I do everything possible to support my health.
“But I’m in the same boat with millions of people who have other illnesses. Unfortunately the drugs have side effects. I’ve developed type 2 diabetes now because of that, and I have to take more medication for that.
“But I’m not whining about it, and I never will. Because I’m so lucky in many respects. Many beautiful friends who were my gay extended family have gone… (Freddie Mercury) wasn’t the only friend who died in 1991. Or 1990. Or 1985 even. It got closer and closer to me as the years went by. So I was fully expecting that I was next.”

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