Strictly Come Dancing professional Nikita Kuzmin has opened up about the terrifying moment he lost his vision suddenly before being rushed to hospital as a teenager. The dancer, now 28, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 13 after experiencing a series of alarming symptoms.
Sudden Symptoms
Speaking on the Walking the Dog podcast with Emily Dean, Kuzmin recalled how his health deteriorated rapidly over the course of a week. He explained: "What I have realised is that, at the time, I lost vision in the way that I couldn't see clearly anymore, literally, suddenly. As I was walking into the tube in Ukraine, and later on, in that week, there was a week where I lost vision and I was losing weight, I lost seven kilos in five days."
The dancer also lost his appetite, which was particularly noticeable during a family meal. "My dad, being diabetic, he spotted it because we went with my mum to this Ukrainian restaurant and I couldn't eat my favourite thing because I simply was not hungry," Kuzmin said.
Hospital Diagnosis
Kuzmin's father, who also has diabetes, recognised the warning signs and took him to hospital in the middle of the night. There, doctors confirmed he had type 1 diabetes. Initially, the dancer feared his career was over. "The first thing I thought, I remember, in my brain is that I'm done with dancing, because dancing was everything," he admitted.
However, the next day, he saw a "wall of fame" in the hospital featuring famous Olympians with diabetes. That moment changed his perspective. "At that moment I thought 'cool' and knew my career could still take off," he said.
Managing Diabetes
Today, Kuzmin wears a glucose sensor that makes his life "way easier". He added: "I think it's a lovely thing because it makes people understand that you do have diabetes and that it's like representing my community. I'm proud."
The NHS highlights the "four Ts" as key warning signs of type 1 diabetes: needing the toilet more, feeling tired, feeling thirsty, and losing weight without trying. Blurred vision is also a common symptom. The health service urges anyone who suspects their child has type 1 diabetes to book an appointment with their GP.
Strictly Career
Kuzmin joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, initially paired with Tilly Ramsay. He was a runner-up in the 2025 series alongside Amber Davies, as Karen Carney and Carlos Gu lifted the Glitterball Trophy.
