DRAGONS centre Tyler Morgan says he can finally see “light at the end of the tunnel” after coming to terms with having diabetes and the injuries that plagued him last season.

The talented 22-year-old Wales international suffered a severe ankle problem in October 2017 and then broke down again with a hairline fracture of his foot just four months later.

At the time, Morgan was unaware he was suffering with Type 1 diabetes, but following an official diagnosis, he believes he has got to the bottom of his fitness problems.

“In May I wasn’t very well, I’d lost a lot of weight and I had all the main symptoms of having diabetes,” he said.

“I told my parents I didn’t feel great and they said to go and get checked out. I went to the team doctor and we did a medical test that day.

“I was told I had Type 1 diabetes and the doctors said there is a strong link between the condition and lower body injuries.

“It was nice to have an explanation as to why I had such a tough season last year, but the news was still a shock to me and it’s something I’ve just had to get used to.

“When I look back on last year, I definitely didn’t feel myself. I felt weak and tired and just a bit down in general. It had an impact on my injuries and recovery which hopefully I’m over now.”

He went on to add: “Diabetes is part of my life now. Type 1 is when your pancreas just doesn’t produce insulin.

“You have too much sugar in your blood, so you have to inject insulin and I take my blood three or four times a day. It tells me whether my blood sugar is too high or too low.

“If I’m too high, I inject insulin. If I’m too low, I drink sugary drinks or eat jelly babies.

“It’s quite easy to manage, but I have to stay away from puddings or cakes and high carbohydrates now.

“I lost about 10 kilos in two weeks last season and it happened very quickly. It was lucky I wasn’t playing at the time and now I’m taking insulin, I’m back to my normal weight.

“It’s a bit of a change for me, but hopefully my normal performance will follow now too.

“The nurses at Llandough Hospital knew I would have to adapt very quickly with the new season around the corner and they’ve been very good to me.

“The doctor and the medical team at the Dragons have been great too in checking up on me regularly to see how I’m doing.

“I’ve got a good support team around me and I’d probably have lost my mind without all the people helping me. It’s all behind me now though.”

Now that he has a much clearer picture of his state of health, Newport-born Morgan can’t wait to get back out on the field and enjoy regular game time with the Dragons.

“I’m back fit now and I started training fully this week,” he said. “It was very difficult last year with me only playing a handful of games.

“It’s a mental test and it can be a dark place when you’re in the gym working by yourself.

“Now there is light at the end of the tunnel which makes it all worth it.

“We’ve got a big first block of four games with the Dragons in which we’re looking to go really hard. I can’t wait to get out there.”