Former Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave is set to start his journey on Dancing on Ice tonight – but admits it won’t be easy for him due to a trio of serious health conditions. The star, 62, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes more than 30 years ago, and has discussed the challenging loss of ‘sensation’ in his feet following his diagnosis.
It is not the only diagnosis which could affect his time on the ice. Steve also has dupuytren contracture – an abnormal thickening of the skin in the palm of the hand which causes one or more fingers to become permanently bent in a flexed position towards the palm – and Ulcerative Colitis – a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ulcers in the colon and rectum – which his Dancing on Ice co-star Mollie Pearce also suffers from.
The former Olympian, who won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000, explained that his conditions added an extra layer of anxiety to the risk of injury on the ice with pro partner Vicky Ogden, 40.
Read more Dancing on Ice’s Mollie Pearce’s ‘taboo’ hidden health condition that ‘completely ruled life’
“I’ve been diabetic for almost 30 years so the sensation in my feet isn’t as good as what it used to be so navigating my footing on the ice could be a problem,” he admitted.
“I also have dupuytren’s contracture which affects my hands meaning I can’t make them flat. If I do fall over, although I’m planning not to, it means I may have trouble getting up,” he explained.
Steve was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the age of 35. He admitted he was shocked to be told it was Type 2 due to his good health and exercise routine while competing.
Speaking about the condition previously, he said: “There is a mortality side to diabetes and the complications are pretty severe. If you look after yourself and monitor and control your blood sugar levels, there’s no reason why you can’t have a long and healthy life.
“But it is a pain, day in and day out, to make sure that your blood sugar levels are under control and that does get hard to deal with at times. I am starting to notice less feeling in my feet which is another one of the problems, especially being very tall.
“You’ve got all these complications that don’t hit you here and now, but will creep up on you sooner or later.”
He was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis back in 1992. Symptoms include diarrhea, sometimes with blood or pus, abdominal pain and cramping and rectal bleeding. It can also cause urgency to have a bowel movement, fatigue and weight loss.
Speaking about his diagnosis, Steve admitted he had been ‘in agony’. He said: “I got really sick with Colitis 15 weeks before I had to compete at the Barcelona Olympics. I was in the loo 10 times a day, my performance was tailing off, I was in agony.
“I look back now and realise how sick I was. Colitis is something you just can’t control. I’m married to a doctor, so I was really lucky that she realised there was something major going on and got me some help.”
Dancing on Ice starts tonight on ITV1 at 6.30pm.