Strictly Come Dancing professional, Nikita Kuzmin, was rushed to hospital in the middle of the night after he ‘suddenly lost his vision’.
The dancer, 28, recounted how he ‘lost seven kilos in five days’ during an unwell spell which resulted in him finding out he had type 1 diabetes.
Warning signs came thick and fast for 13-year-old Nikita, but one thing particularly worried his dad, who also has the condition.
On Walking The Dog podcast with Emily Dean, Nikita explained: ‘We [him and his dad] went with my mom to this Ukrainian restaurant and I couldn’t eat my favourite thing because I was simply not hungry.
‘And then my dad brought me to the hospital in the middle of the night. And that’s what they told me that it’s happening.’
Get personalised updates on Strictly
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
In the same week he had experienced losing his vision: ‘I couldn’t see clearly anymore like literally suddenly as I was walking into the tube in Ukraine.’
Talking about the dramatic weight loss, he explained: ‘I was not eating, just drinking water because your body really wants water.’
After being rushed to hospital, Nikita explained he ‘thought everything was done and over.’
He was already mourning what he thought was the end of his career. Even as a teenager, he said ‘dancing was everything’.
Thankfully for Nikita, and for BBC’s Strictly viewers, he didn’t have to pack it all in.
Talking to Emily while walking his pooch, Mabel, he recalled seeing a ‘wall of fame’ in hospital the next day, full of inspirational people who had diabetes.
This gave him the mentality to think he could carry on doing what he loved, and that he did.
What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes?
According to the NHS, the most common symptoms of type 1 diabetes can be remembered as the 4 Ts (toilet, thirsty, tired thinner):
- Toilet: peeing more than usual, especially at night
- Thirsty: feeling very thirsty
- Tired: feeling very tired
- Thinner: losing weight without trying to or looking thinner
Children might have heavier nappies or start wetting the bed because they’re peeing more.
With a glucose sensor and the right medication, Nikita has been able to thrive as a professional dancer.
He often has his sensor showing while he’s dancing on the Saturday night show, and Nikita told Emily he feels like he’s ‘representing his community’ when he wears it. ‘I’m proud’, he added.
Nikita also talked about how nerves can spike his blood sugar levels, which can be tricky for someone who is appearing on live TV each week.
The professional, who danced with Amber Davies in the last season of the show, Nikita is confirmed for the next season of Strictly Come Dancing.
Recently, he ran the London Marathon for DiabetesUK and raised £5,000 doing it.
He took to Instagram the day after, thanking his supporters and fans and admitting it wasn’t easy: ‘This marathon hasn’t been my best by a mile and my diabetes may have gotten a little bit in the way, but sometimes even a bad day can be wonderful!
‘So I’m grateful to have been part of this most wholesome event full of wonderful people❤️.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.