I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! fans have been speculating as to why Sue Cleaver was exempted from the first Bushtucker eating trial of the new series.
Hosts Ant and Dec told viewers they would not be allowed to vote for the Coronation Street star to take part in Friday's Bushtucker Trial, which would see two campmates going head-to-head feasting on jungle-themed snacks. Fans of the show were left to speculate why as the Geordie duo did not elaborate any further.
Curious social media users took to Twitter to canvass opinion. Twitter user @LizaBrianne asked: "Why isnt Sue Cleaver open for eating trial? She had all my votes."
Others offered explanations after eagle-eyed viewers spotted the actress wearing a patch on her arm. @bevbloggs commented: "Does Sue Cleaver have diabetes? I thought I spotted an insulin arm patch on her and now she’s exempt from the eating trial."
The 59-year-old actress does reportedly have Type 2 diabetes. This is when your pancreas fails to produce a sufficient amount of insulin or insulin that doesn't work properly.
The pancreas produces insulin to regulate our body's blood sugar levels. If it doesn't make enough of it or the insulin it does produce fails to work in the way it's supposed to, blood sugar levels increase.
A condition called hyperglycaemia occurs if the blood sugar levels in our body rise too high. The UK's leading diabetes charity, Diabetes UK, says symptoms of hyperglycaemia include passing more urine than normal, especially at night; being very thirsty; tiredness; thrush or recurring bladder and skin infections; headaches; blurred vision; weight loss; nausea and vomiting.
However, if treated appropriately, type 2 diabetes can be managed or even reversed and people with the condition can go on to live healthy lives. Some are able to control the condition by making changes to their diet but most take medication like insulin injections or Metformin tablets to keep their blood sugar levels down.
Sue, who has played Eileen Grimshaw on the ITV soap since 2000, was rushed to hospital in 2011 after collapsing on set because of her condition. The health scare prompted her to make some serious lifestyle changes such as adopting a Mediterranean and gluten-free diet which has helped her lose three stone in weight and drop from a size 16 to a size 12.
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