Olympic rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave opens up on harrowing health battle

dailyrecord.co.uk:

British Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave has opened up on a harrowing health battle and urged people to seek help if they notice similar symptoms.The 62-year-old retired rower, who won five gold medals for TeamGB at five consecutive Games, is famous for showing grit and determination.But since retiring from the sport in 2000, he has suffered a range of symptoms and was at first reluctant to seek help.Exclusively speaking to the Mirror, Steve said: “What I’ve been noticing is more weight gain, especially around the stomach area, a little bit more tiredness, culminating in depression – which I would class as the worst side of it.“At first, I thought it was just getting older.

I just accepted it.”As the symptoms continued, Steve eventually sought help from his GP but doctors weren't able to provide him with a diagnosis.Around six months ago, a friend suggested that his symptoms could be ­connected to testosterone deficiency and things began to make sense.“It just wasn’t something I had really considered,” he said.Steve took a blood test through Ted’s Health earlier this year after deciding to investigate the possibility and results revealed that his testosterone levels were on the low side.He now realises he had all the tell-tale symptoms apart from low libido. “I don’t seem to have suffered as much of that as others.” Steve was further surprised to learn of the link between ­type 2 diabetes and testosterone deficiency.

The former olympian was diagnosed with ­type 2 diabetes at the age of 35 and did not know that men who have the deficiency are four times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

Around half of men with type 2 diabetes will have low levels.The sporting icon was first diagnosed in 1997 and says: “I had a