Kyle O’Reilly Discusses How Wrestling Affects His Type 1 Diabetes: “On Days Where I’m On TV It Seems Like My Insulin Doesn’t Really Work”

Kyle O’Reilly discusses how his type 1 diabetes is affected by wrestling and vice versa.

For those unaware, Kyle O’Reilly suffers from type 1 diabetes. In a world where adrenaline and other factors play a key part in the sport, this could spell disaster in an emergency situation for O’Reilly. While he suffers from the disease, he does not let it effect his in ring work.

While speaking to Beyond Type One, O’Reilly was asked how competing affects his diabetes.

Wrestling puts a lot of demand on you mentally and physically—a lot of anxiety and stress. We know what happens when your body is under stress—your blood sugar spikes.

On days where I’m on TV it seems like my insulin doesn’t really work. I think that’s cortisol and stress doing its thing. As soon as I’m done and I can settle back down it works again. Typically before matches I tend to run pretty high, but I think that beats the alternative of having a low. We all know what can happen there. So I have to be a little comfortable being high going into the ring. I might get a little more tired at the time, but I can manage that. As soon as I come back through the curtain, I take insulin.

So much of diabetes is dealing with the curveballs that it throws at you. There’s never a one-size-fits-all remedy to a situation.

Roddy Piper said: “Just when you think you have the answers, I change the questions.”

I think diabetes is a lot like that. Just when you think you’re figuring it out, something will happen and you just have to deal with it accordingly.

Kyle O’Reilly to Beyond Type 1

Kyle was then asked how he deals with setbacks and diabetes burnout. Kyle would refer to his current neck injury in his answer.

Right now, for the first time in 17 years I’m dealing with a significant injury that will require surgery. I’m using this time to reevaluate myself, my training, my diet and my diabetes care. To come back better than ever, have a better A1C, be an overall better athlete.

Diabetes burnout is so real, especially when you’re flying cross-country, changing time zones, you don’t know when your next meal is coming. With my career and diabetes, that becomes difficult.

As wrestlers we basically go until the wheels fall off, so this has been a good moment to hear, “Kyle, you need to take care of yourself, pump the brakes a little, take some time off and get this fixed.”

It’s a lot like my diagnosis—truly a blessing in disguise. I remember my mother telling me that, rest her soul.
How do you see yourself [as an advocate] in the diabetes community?

For the longest time I didn’t want anybody to know.

Wrestlers aren’t the brightest bunch, so people would go “What are you doing? Is that heroin? Are you taking steroids?”

“Dude it’s my friggin’ insulin.” It’s a weird sort of thing, but now I’m proud of it.

So many fans have reached out to me saying I’ve inspired them. Some want to start training, but they didn’t know they could because they had type 1. Now that I know that people knowing I have type 1 is leading them to live a healthier lifestyle—that just makes me feel so good.

I’m really trying to be more involved in the diabetes community as a result.

Kyle O’Reilly to Beyond Type 1

O’Reilly is currently rehabbing from neck surgery. His possible return timetable is unknown at this time.

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