Dame Sarah Storey Details 'Rollercoaster' Week After Strictly Exit Amid Son's Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis

Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey has shared that her nine-year-old son, Charlie, has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. The announcement came during a particularly eventful week for Storey, who was also voted off the television show "Strictly Come Dancing."

Storey, 48, disclosed her son's diagnosis on social media on Friday, describing the past week as a "rollercoaster." She explained that Charlie had been admitted to the hospital with very high blood sugar levels. This diagnosis follows that of her daughter, Louisa, 13, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes approximately 12 months ago. Storey's husband, fellow Paralympian Barney Storey, also has Type 1 diabetes.

"This week has been quite a week, my nine-year-old son Charlie got admitted to hospital a few days ago, he had really high blood pressure. And just as his sister was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 12 months ago, Charlie has had the same diagnosis too," Storey stated. She added that while she had hoped the condition might miss one of her children, she is grateful to be able to support him.

Despite the personal challenges, Storey expressed pride in her son's resilience. "He's doing an incredible job, he's already doing the injections himself, working out the dosages so it's quite remarkable just how resilient he has been," she said.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin, a hormone essential for regulating blood glucose levels. This leads to elevated blood sugar.

Storey and her dance partner, Julian Caillon, were the third couple eliminated from "Strictly Come Dancing" last week. They were placed at the bottom of the leaderboard after their Tango performance, receiving 21 points from the judges.

Despite the competition's outcome, Storey reflected positively on her experience. "I am really proud to have had a few weeks learning from this incredible chap and I've enjoyed every minute," she said of her dance partner. Caillon praised Storey's work ethic and dedication, calling her "the GOAT" (Greatest Of All Time) and affirming her ability to dance.