Kyle O’Reilly is undoubtedly one of the top superstars in NXT right now, and his ring skills have been put to full use in recent years. After Adam Cole broke up the Undisputed Era, he feuded with Kyle O’Reilly.
O’Reilly has become a popular WWE NXT Superstar since his debut in 2017. O’Reilly has type 1 diabetes, a disease he was diagnosed with early in his wrestling career.
In an interview with Muscle & Fitness, Kyle O’Reilly spoke about his diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. O’Reilly stated that he was diagnosed at 18 and that it was a blessing in disguise.
“I was 18 years old and had just started my professional wrestling journey. I was in wrestling school and got to the point where I could be booked for matches. But something was wrong and I was pretty sick. I lost weight and I had to urinate every five minutes and it felt like there wasn’t enough water on planet earth to put my first one out, you know?
“I went to see a doctor to do my wrestling practice to get my Washington State wrestling license and the doctor comes back and asks me if I have type 1 diabetes. I was like, ‘no’. So that was embarrassing (laughs). The diagnosis kind of came out of nowhere, but after that it was a hidden blessing. It helps make me responsible for my own health and I have a lot more under control now. When I got insulin therapy, I was able to gain weight again. “
“People were reluctant to support this dream of being a professional wrestler with this new diagnosis, but I refuse to let it define me or stop me from pursuing and pursuing my dreams. Living with diabetes means having a support system and being part of a community. You have your people to look up to.
“Hockey legend Bobby Clarke is a Type 1 diabetic and always says he never wanted to be seen as a hockey player with diabetes, you know? He wants to be known as a great ice hockey player who happened to have diabetes. And that’s how I see myself as a wrestler on NXT. I want to be seen as a great wrestler who happens to be diabetic. “
“Hopefully I can inspire people who might be involved with something like this in their own lives. I would be lying if I said it ain’t difficult On days that I wrestle, my stress levels are high and my cortisol is high.
“Because my body kind of goes into this ‘fight or flight’ survival mode and releasing a lot of sugar (while playing), I tend to increase my insulin levels a little before and after games, but I would prefer that to that Alternative to getting low and being hyperglycemic. We all have good and bad days as diabetics, but I don’t let a bad day define me or ruin the next day. “
This is certainly an inspiring effort by Kyle O’Reilly who, despite type 1 diabetes, pursued his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. O’Reilly also lost his match against Adam Cole in the NXT Great American Bash. We’ll have to see what comes next.
