Pete Doherty, 45, has revealed a noticeable transformation in his appearance, following a major health overhaul after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes earlier this year.
The Libertines frontman, who has long been open about his struggles with addiction, shared his weight loss journey on Instagram. In a post on Thursday, Pete showed off his slimmer frame, posing in a sharp suit while sitting on steps with his dog, Gladys, by his side. The musician’s outfit included a grey and black hounds-tooth suit, a light blue shirt, and a patterned tie, completed with a flat cap, red socks, and black suede shoes. He was also seen smoking a cigarette, a nod to his more laid-back style.
In recent months, Pete has made significant changes to his lifestyle, after being urged by doctors to address his health. Despite his past battles with crack cocaine and heroin, Pete has been sober for three years. However, he admitted that his diet, which had been filled with cheese and sugar, posed a new health challenge.
Speaking to The Guardian earlier this year, Pete said, “I gave up the main poisons and my health improved. Then you get told alcohol, cheese, and sugar are just as bad, and you were healthier when you were on heroin.” He jokingly referred to himself as “a bit of a glutton” but acknowledged his new diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and the difficulty in managing his cholesterol.
Pete’s doctor had issued a stern warning about his health, urging him to make immediate dietary changes. He shared that a liver specialist had pointed out his excessive consumption of cheese and milk. “The cheese is so good,” he said, laughing at his guilty pleasure. “But it’s a cholesterol and diabetes thing now, and there are tablets for that, which make a big difference.”
Previously, Pete had been open about his larger figure, which he partly attributed to indulgences like cheese on toast and long sleep-ins after years of intense drug use. In 2021, he described his new lifestyle, stating, “My guilty pleasure is sleeping.” He also mentioned experimenting with cocktails but insisted he was not an alcoholic, preferring a nice glass of water.
This shift in his lifestyle contrasts sharply with Pete’s appearance just a few years ago. In 2021, he was seen walking his dog with a wedge of cheese in hand, enjoying it as a snack while sporting a fuller physique and messy hair.
Pete’s relocation to France with his wife, Katia de Vidas, and their daughter, Billie-May, has also marked a slower pace of life. The musician has embraced his quieter life in France, trading in his former chaotic days for more grounded pleasures.
The rock star, who once described himself as a “very sick man” in a documentary with Louis Theroux, had previously spoken about his bleak outlook on life, admitting that he thought “death was lurking” due to his drug use. While he has remained sober from hard drugs for three years, Pete still drinks alcohol, and his smoking habit remains.
Pete is also the subject of a documentary, Peter Doherty: Stranger in My Own Skin, which highlights the extent of his past addiction. The film, directed by his wife, Katia, includes raw footage of Pete’s struggles with drugs, his performances during his worst times, and personal moments with his late friend and lover, Amy Winehouse.
As Pete continues to work on his health, his weight loss serves as a visible testament to the changes he’s made since his diabetes diagnosis, underscoring his commitment to living a healthier life.
