Just a few weeks ago, we learned that Rylee Arnold, Stephen Nedoroscik’s partner on Dancing with the Stars, bravely opened up about her journey with Type 1 diabetes. She made it super clear, saying, “I didn’t want my diagnosis to stop me.” Rylee first shared her story back in May, explaining that her pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, which means she has to keep a close eye on her blood sugar levels. This can get pretty tricky since things like physical activity, being sick, or even stress can throw those levels off.

When Rylee first started showing symptoms, her family—including two medical professionals—didn’t take her seriously at first. It wasn’t until she managed to convince her doctor dad to listen to her that things began to change. Now, she has opened up about another truly frightening incident that occurred nearly three years before she stepped onto the dance floor of Dancing with the Stars alongside Stephen Nedoroscik!

In a recent segment on The Squeeze, the host posed the question to Rylee, “How old were you when you were diagnosed?” She shared that she was “about to be 16 years old,” recalling how wild that time was. “I was in the heat of my dance season,” she said, describing how sick and exhausted she felt. While dancing, she couldn’t perform at her best and questioned herself, wondering, “What’s happening? Am I not good anymore?” Rylee recounted a particularly alarming moment during a dance convention when she went through an entire case of water bottles in a single day.

Rylee constantly needed to use the restroom and noticed she was eating a lot, but still losing weight. It was a confusing and frightening experience, as she felt increasingly unwell yet was trying to push through. Eventually, she confided in her dad, saying, “Dad, you know, I really do not feel good.” This prompted her to seek medical attention. When she arrived at the hospital, they ran several tests and revealed a shocking blood sugar level of 1023.

For perspective, she explained that the normal range is between 80 to 120. She learned that she had likely been living with diabetes for about three months. However, her intense activity level had kept her condition somewhat manageable. Rylee reflected on the gravity of her situation, saying, “I could have gone to bed that night and not gone to the hospital, and I could have died, which is so scary.”

After spending three days in the hospital, Rylee was trained on how to manage her diabetes—how to prick her finger and determine the right amount of insulin to take for her meals—ushering in a new chapter in her life. So how did she manage it all?

Stephen Nedoroscik’s partner reveals BTS of going through diabetes!

Rylee Arnold, Stephen Nedoroscik’s dance partner, has always radiated positivity, even while living with Type 1 diabetes. She expressed her gratitude, saying she’s “incredibly grateful for the strength it has given me.” Reflecting on the past year, she celebrated everything she has accomplished, sharing, “The fact that I have had the most amazing year, fulfilling my biggest dreams, makes me so grateful and happy! All of the blood sugar scares, counting carbs, hauling supplies, and crazy management is so worth it!” 

Rylee also mentioned how, “Type 1 has taught me so much about myself and how I can also be a huge advocate to so many with Type 1 as well.” Just last month, she took to Instagram to share her excitement about attending the Carousel of Hope gala, where she spoke about her journey. Her heartfelt caption read, “Heading to the carousel of hope gala tonight to speak about my type 1 diabetes journey! Truly a pinch-me moment, and I’m so grateful for it all.” It’s clear that diabetes isn’t holding her back; instead, she’s seizing every opportunity to shine and inspire others along the way.

Stephen Nedoroscik also took a moment to show his support, sharing a story of Rylee speaking on stage for Type 1 diabetes. He proudly captioned it, “@ryleearnold1 inspiring generations of Type 1 diabetes at the @cdfdiabetes.” Their mutual support is so heartwarming, both on and off the dance floor! As diabetes cases continue to rise, with figures soaring from 108 million in 1980 to an astonishing 422 million in 2014, according to the World Health Organization, Rylee is making a significant impact by using her platform to raise awareness.

One fan expressed gratitude, saying, “Thank you for speaking out about this, Rylee! A lot of people have been affected by this condition directly and indirectly.” With a following of over 860,000, Rylee Arnold is committed to using her voice for something meaningful—spreading awareness about diabetes and inspiring countless others!