Stephen Nedoroscik was quite apprehensive when he started with his Dancing with the Stars journey, as he was new to the whole craft. But he has had a blockbuster start in his campaign, as both fans and judges have praised his energetic style. A lot of that success goes to his incredible partner, Rylee Arnold, who’s managed to transform the Olympian into a dancing sensation. And here’s the wild part: Rylee has been doing all of this while quietly dealing with a serious health issue.

 The dancer was diagnosed with Stage 1 diabetes when she was 16. Rylee faced the terrifying possibility that it could derail her dance dreams. Spoiler alert: it didn’t—but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t had to deal with its consequences!

Stephen Nedoroscik’s partner, Rylee Arnold, reveals how diabetes affected her dancing career

On the Lightweights podcast with Joe Vulpis, Stephen Nedoroscik’s dance mentor, Rylee Arnold, opened up about how she manages her diabetes while dancing, offering a glimpse into the challenges that come with balancing her health and career. According to Rylee, most of the time, diabetes doesn’t hold her back and she’s able to dance without a hitch. But occasionally, her blood sugar levels fluctuate—and that’s when things get tricky. When her blood sugar drops, it brings on self-doubt and loss of control, making her nervous. That’s why, on show days, she’s extra vigilant about keeping her blood sugar stable. However, during rehearsals, it’s not always smooth sailing.

When her blood sugar dips, she needs to pause, sit down, and snack to bring it back to normal. On the flip side, when it spikes, it also messes with her performance, which became a big issue during the Dancing with the Stars Tour. “On tour it was really hard, like there’d be times where I’d be dancing and I’d be like I don’t feel good, and then stage yes, like I’d be like my blood sugar is low, so I would go off; they’d always have fruit snacks for me on the side.”

Despite the support from the organizers, Rylee didn’t let it become a crutch. “There were a lot of times where I really did not feel good and my blood sugar was not good, but I just still tried to put my best foot forward and make the best show for the people watching me.”

Her dedication to her craft is undeniable—despite battling health issues, she always delivers for her fans. Rylee’s resilience and determination have kept her pushing forward, never allowing her diagnosis to overshadow her passion. Earlier this year, she even shared a heartfelt Instagram post detailing her journey with diabetes, showing how she refuses to let it hold her back.

Rylee Arnold turned her diagnosis into her motivation

On May 13, Stephen Nedoroscik’s partner Rylee Arnold posted an Instagram post marking three years since the revelation of her diabetes diagnosis. She confessed in the post that she felt the blow so much that it was one of the toughest times in her life. On the other hand, at the same time, she thanks the predicament so much for the strength that came her way. When the post was published, Rylee ended a great DWTS tour along with an exceptionally successful debut season with her partner Harry Jowsey. She said, “The fact that I have had the most amazing year, fulfilling my biggest dreams, makes me so grateful and happy!”

Stephen Nedoroscik’s partner also revealed the learning she has experienced with the disease and how she intends to aid others with the same.  But the biggest takeaway was the fact that she didn’t let her disease halt her. She wanted to let the whole world know that. “I just want you guys to know that nothing can ever stop you from achieving your dreams. You might have some bumps and challenges along the way, but they only make you so much stronger!!” she said.

It’s this never-give-up attitude that’s been Rylee Arnold’s secret weapon for success. Her determination might just be the edge that she and Stephen Nedoroscik need to snag the Dancing with the Stars Season 33 trophy. Honestly, with the way they’re performing, it’s not out of reach—and what a career milestone that would be for Rylee! Fingers crossed that her hard work pays off and she gets to add a DWTS win to her list of accomplishments. Hopefully, this is her moment!