Adam Smith on mindfulness, mental health, and diabetes

Sky Sports presenter Adam Smith was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just as his career was taking off. I caught up with Adam to discuss a day in his life and the challenges of managing the condition while working in the fast-paced world of live television.

We also spoke about his support for the Mind in Range Collection, created in partnership with Omnipod and Calm. Adam shares how he uses mindfulness as a practical tool to help navigate the daily stresses of living with type 1 diabetes.

Inside Adam Smith’s life with type 1 diabetes

Adam Smith is a television presenter, podcaster, and content creator, best known for hosting ‘Saturday Social’, Sky Sports’ football entertainment show. He’s also the official matchday host in the Bobby Moore Lounge at Wembley Stadium, where he brings his energy and personality to every game.

Adam’s career has gone from strength to strength – something he’s incredibly proud of. But what makes his achievements even more remarkable is what he’s had to tackle along the way. Throughout his rise in broadcasting, Adam has also been balancing life with type 1 diabetes, and the pressures of a busy job.

Adam Smith

The diagnosis that changed everything

Adam was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 12 years ago, as a young adult. His symptoms included the hallmark signs of the condition – needing to urinate frequently, extreme weight loss, constant thirst, and overwhelming fatigue.

“I lost a lot of weight and was going to the toilet about eight times a night,” he says. “I remember one time I was drinking a bottle of water while I was urinating because my thirst and need to go to the toilet was so extreme.

“A lot of people also said I looked grey – that I didn’t have a healthy skin colour.”

When Adam finally underwent tests to determine the cause of his symptoms, the results showed that his blood sugar was dangerously high. Health professionals told him they believed he was just one week away from slipping into a coma.

The hidden mental health toll of diabetes

Initially, Adam felt relieved to finally have the answers he needed and a clear path towards getting better. But he was unprepared for the time, planning, and self-care required to stay well.

The reality of living with type 1 diabetes meant injecting insulin five to eight times a day, calculating carbohydrate intake, constantly monitoring his blood sugar, and ordering medication. He also had to make sure he was getting the right balance of food, drink, and sleep – all while trying to manage his stress levels.

“It can consume every aspect of your life,” he describes. “But the alternative to not doing these things is literally not surviving.

“So for two years my mental health was on the absolute floor. I was injecting in private, crying myself to sleep, and keeping it all closed – only telling close family members about my diagnosis.”

Challenging the stigma around diabetes

Adam describes his journey with diabetes as one shaped by both physical and mental struggles. However, he hadn’t anticipated the societal stigma that would also come with the condition – something which can exacerbate an already fragile state of mental health.

During the early days of his diagnosis, he felt as though having diabetes placed him outside society’s perceived idea of what is considered ‘normal.’

“The classic stigma is people thinking you’re injecting drugs or hitting up when you’re injecting,” he says. “And every time I speak to another type one, we’ve all received similar comments. I never think it comes from a place of malice. It just comes from a lack of education and awareness.”

People living with diabetes,whether type 1 or type 2, should not be subjected to negative comments suggesting they have ‘given it to themselves’ or are a ‘drain on the NHS’. If you feel you are being targeted because of your health condition, it is important to seek support. Diabetes UK urges anyone affected by diabetes-related stigma tocontact their helplinefor advice.

Adam Smith on mindfulness, mental health, and diabetes

When keeping diabetes private became too much

Adam tried to keep his diagnosis under wraps for a long time. This was partly because of the stigma he had seen directed towards himself, and partly because he worried that having the condition could somehow jeopardise his career.

“I actually got my presenter’s contract the same year I was diagnosed,” he recalls. “I’m on national TV, interviewing huge superstars, putting photos up on Instagram with global sports stars. And under every photo is this phrase, ‘living the dream’. Whereas in reality, I was in the worst place I’ve ever been mentally.

“My personal and professional life could not have been more different.”

Although Adam’s physical symptoms began to subside as he started receiving treatment and learning to manage his diabetes, they were soon replaced by new physical symptoms linked to his deteriorating mental health. He began experiencing extreme dizziness and vertigo, to the point where he found it difficult to travel in lifts or moving vehicles.

After undergoing tests with an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist and having a brain scan, both of which came back normal, Adam was told by a psychologist that his new symptoms were likely a result of anxiety brought on by his diabetes diagnosis.

“That massively shocked and alerted me to how your mental health can make you feel physically ill,” he says. “So once those tests came back normal, I realised that I needed to open up about my condition for the sake of my wellbeing.”

Why talking can make such a difference

It wasn’t until after two years of struggling in silence that Adam finally took to social media and shared his experience of living with type 1 diabetes. Although he expected some negative comments, he was blown away by the support and empathy he received.

“90% of the messages I got were overwhelmingly positive,” he describes. “That really helped me in my journey of understanding and living with this condition. What followed next blew my mind. I also received messages from people who were struggling – not necessarily with diabetes, but with serious issues in their lives.

“It switched a light bulb on in me – rather than just asking people to help me, I now felt like I had a purpose in life to help others. When I’ve spoken to people who have struggled with their mental health, I found that men in particular feel like they can’t talk about it.

“I myself could never have imagined opening up like I am to you now ten years ago. I wasn’t even telling my best friends about my health issues. And now I do talks, keynote speeches, I go to schools, and I collaborate with charities. Because I think that if I can help just one person by telling my story, then it’s worth telling.”

Why Adam asks “Are you alright?” twice

One simple way Adam encourages those around him to open up about how they’re feeling is through his ‘ask twice’ approach.

“It’s the classic question,” he explains. “Everyone says, ‘Are you all right, mate?’ You go, ‘Yeah.’ I’ve never actually remembered someone ever saying, ‘No.’ It’s a pointless question that people say, ‘Yes’ to. What I do now is ask twice, because you’re never going to get a real answer the first time.

“I’m not saying you should be down and feel depressed all the time. But I think there is a big strength in being vulnerable when you are really struggling, and opening up to the friends around you.”

Finding mental health support for diabetes

When Adam was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, he found there was a wealth of support available to help him manage the physical side of the condition. But he didn’t feel he received the same support when it came to his mental health. Adam attributes this partly to a lack of available rethcare professionals are immediately focused on saving your life

“You are looked at physically all the time,” says Adam. “But I didn’t receive any psychological support. Nor was there an intrinsic link between how this may affect you mentally. There’s lots of research to suggest that if you have diabetes, you’re more likely to experience mental health issues such as anxiety or depression.

“I had to proactively seek help myself. It wasn’t until I started speaking to people that I realised I probably needed therapy because I couldn’t cope with this and pretend everything was alright.”

Adam says that, alongside therapy, opening up and talking about his condition has been hugely beneficial for his mental health. It has also led to an unexpected

“When I do my live Sky show on a Saturday morning, I have a floor manager who keeps some sweets off camera because she knows about my condition,” he says. “If I wasn’t telling anyone about my diabetes, that’s not a very helpful or practical way to live.

“So now I tell everyone before every call and every event I do – especially because I’m in a relatively high-pressure job that often requires me to stand on stage in front of a thousand people. There’s no margin for my blood sugar levels to go wrong.”

How mindfulness can support life with diabetes

Adam compares managing diabetes to having a superpower – although one that comes with a huge amount of responsibility. For people who don’t live with the condition, it’s difficult to understand just how complex and demanding diabetes management can be. Adam describes it as having two jobs – your day job, and the job of managing a major organ that isn’t working as it should.

But, as Adam has learned, even superheroes need a helping hand, particularly when it comes to their mental health.

Alongside therapy and the support of those around him, Adam has found another valuable tool in the partnership between Insulet – the makers of Omnipod insulin pumps – and mental wellness app Calm. Their ‘Mind in Range’ Collection offers simple ways to incorporate mindfulness into daily life, helping people navigate the psychological side of living with diabetes.

“I’ve utilised so many practical mindfulness tips which link very well to what Calm and Omnipod are doing as a partnership,” he says. “The technology behind each has combined to deliver a fantastic product that has helped me manage my condition both physically and mentally. This collaboration is such a natural fit because so many people living with diabetes don’t just struggle physically, but also struggle mentally – of which I’m one.”

Box breathing: Adam’s daily reset

Of particular benefit to Adam is the breathwork technique known as box breathing. This practice involves inhaling for four seconds, holding the breath for four seconds, exhaling for another four seconds, then holding again for the same amount of time.

“I try and do that for ten minutes every morning,” he says. “For that period, because you’re concentrating on counting for ten minutes, your mind doesn’t go anywhere else. So when you open your eyes, the grass looks greener, the birds sound clearer, the sky seems bluer – you’re a lot more relaxed and alert about the day ahead.”

Adam explains that box breathing can be particularly valuable when you lead a busy lifestyle. While it may be tempting to skip it on especially hectic days, he suggests making the time, arguing that your productivity can actually improve when you build practices such as this into your routine.

“Box breathing might be more suited to me as an individual,” he adds. “But if you download the Calm app, check it out, you can pick what’s right for you.”

To learn more and explore the Mind in Range collection – including free guided meditations, breathing exercises, and Lila Moss’s new sleep story – visitthe Omnipod × Calm page.

Adam’s advice for living well with diabetes

Adam wants people to know that managing diabetes can be tough. However, he says it does become more manageable with time. While he recommends seeking support from a healthcare professional and exploring mind-body practices to boost your mental health, one of the most important lessons he has learned is the value of talking to others about how you feel.

“Talk,” he urges. “Don’t keep it hidden. You’ll be amazed at how much support there is out there. Be vulnerable. Open up to the people around you, because the more that people know, the more they can help.

“A problem shared is a problem halved. Don’t try to hide the fact that you’re struggling. It’s okay not to be okay. You will have good days. You will have bad days. But it is a superpower that will make you stronger.

“Having diabetes certainly hasn’t stopped me from achieving anything in my life, and it won’t stop you from achieving anything you want either. I’m a firm believer in that.”

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Diabetes burnout – how mindfulness can support your mental wellbeing

Living with diabetes can feel like a non-stop job. From tracking blood sugar and managing insulin to balancing meals and weight, the constant upkeep is both physically and mentally draining. We asked Dr Chris Mosunic, Chief Clinical Officer at Calm, about the reality of diabetes burnout and the tools that can help support your mental health along the way.

The link between diabetes and mental health conditions

The physical symptoms of diabetes need managing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. According to Diabetes UK, 2 in 5 people feel mentally overwhelmed by the demands of living with the condition.

About the authorView full bio

Victoria Raw

Feature Writer

Victoria is a content writer at Patient, with special interests spanning mental wellbeing, societal trends and the impact of technology on our health.

About the reviewerView full bio

Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP

General Practitioner, Medical Author

MBBS, MRCGP, MRCP (Paediatrics), DCH

Dr Colin Tidy is an NHS Doctor, based in Oxfordshire.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

Article also available inEnglish,German,Spanish,French,Italian,Portuguese,Hindi,Hebrew,Arabic, andSwedish.

• Next review due: 20 Sept 2029

• 20 Sept 2026 | Originally published

  Victoria Raw
  Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the community do not represent medical advice. For any health concerns, consult your GP or healthcare provider.

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