The Exeter centre had to balance late selection, long-haul travel and unpredictable blood sugar levels as he returned to England duty and renewed his push towards the 2027 World Cup.
Henry Slade’s return to England duty this summer came with an extra layer of complexity that went well beyond selection politics. The Exeter Chiefs centre was thrust back into the side for the first Test in South Africa after George Furbank withdrew with appendicitis, and the disruption was magnified by the demands of long-haul travel, shifting time zones and the constant calculations required to manage type 1 diabetes. Speaking to the Herald Scotland, Slade said the combination of travel, climate change and match preparation meant he had to be especially disciplined about food, insulin and timing.
Slade said he had not expected to feature heavily in England’s summer programme, having been out of favour for much of the international season before his late call-up. But he ended up starting successive Tests after making the squad at short notice, and described the need to eat early and load up on carbohydrates when the news of his inclusion arrived only the evening before kick-off. BBC Sport has previously reported that he lives with constant blood sugar monitoring, while adrenaline and exertion can make match-day management unpredictable.
His performances offered a reminder of his value at Test level. Slade impressed in England’s win over Fiji in Liverpool and again in the victory against Argentina, producing strong displays across three continents in as many weekends. The Guardian noted earlier this year that, despite being 33, he remains a central figure for Exeter and has spoken openly about the daily discipline involved in balancing elite rugby with a chronic condition.
The wider context is one of growing misunderstanding around diabetes even as the condition becomes more common. In a campaign for Tackle Diabetes backed by Sanofi, Slade spoke about the public tendency to link type 1 diabetes with diet and lifestyle, despite it being an autoimmune disease. Diabetes UK’s stigma report found that misconceptions are widespread, with 89% of people saying they had encountered myths about diabetes and nearly half believing it is caused by too much sugar.
That matters because the number of people living with type 1 diabetes is expected to rise sharply over the next two decades. UK Biobank research published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology has also challenged the idea that type 1 diabetes is confined mainly to childhood and early adulthood, showing it appears across much of the life course. For Slade, who was diagnosed at 18 before developing symptoms, the condition has been a constant companion rather than a barrier to reaching the top of the sport. With Exeter already off to a difficult start to the season, he now faces the task of sustaining his form in club rugby as he keeps one eye on the long road to the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
