Why People with Type 1 Diabetes Can’t Compete on Survivor

Why People with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Can't Compete on Survivor

And why that doesn’t mean we aren’t already outlasting everyone...

If you live with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and love Survivor, you’ve probably wondered: could I ever actually be on the show?

I have. I’ve been a fan for over six years now, captivated by the strategy, the grit, the social dynamics. Every season, I think about what my gameplay might look like—how I’d align, when I’d flip, and if I’d make fire. But it always ends in the same frustrating realization: this dream isn’t made for people like me.

Because while Survivor is all about resilience, strategy, and survival, it still assumes a body that functions without the help of insulin, tech, and constant management. And for those of us living with type 1 diabetes, the jungle isn’t just tough—it’s a medical red flag.

Let’s break down why people with type 1 diabetes can't compete on Survivor...

The Physical Challenges Go Beyond the Game

In a May 2025 article, People magazine shared that Survivor producers don’t have a strict physical checklist for contestants, but they do require players to be in peak physical condition, able to endure extreme environments and high-stakes challenges.

I want to be clear: people with type 1 diabetes can be in incredible shape. Many of us are. We lift, we hike, we train for marathons. We know our bodies inside and out because we have to. But our ability to thrive isn’t the issue—it’s the game’s structure.

Think about what it means to run through an obstacle course with a blood sugar drop looming. Or to push through a team challenge while needing water to nurture a high and insulin to bring it down, or sugar to treat a low. These aren’t “conveniences”—they’re survival tools. And using them mid-challenge could be perceived as cheating, even if it’s literally life-saving.

Just to clarify: I wouldn't mind if other players took glucose tablets with me to "even the playing field." (Trust me, they're not a treat. And trust me, I'd still be at a disadvantage.)

Starvation + Insulin = A Dangerous Combo

One of Survivor’s core mechanics is food deprivation. But for someone with type 1 diabetes, that’s not just uncomfortable—it’s dangerous.

Without regular food intake, insulin dosing becomes a tightrope walk. Too much insulin can cause severe lows. Too little can cause diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which can be fatal.

Combine that with physical exertion, stress, and tropical heat? It’s a no-go.

At a minimum, someone with T1D would need consistent access to food, hydration, and monitoring, which completely defeats the point of the show’s “no help, no extras” survival ethos.

Insulin Dependence Is the Dealbreaker

Survivor producers say challenges are “achievable for a wide range of people,” and technically, someone with type 2 diabetes who isn’t on insulin might get the medical go-ahead.

Contestants may be able to use some type 2 medications off-camera without requiring mid-challenge corrections, as long as the side effects are not exacerbated by the climate in Fiji. Remember, in past seasons, one contestant had to be evicted early because their medications caused serious side effects in the heat.

But anyone who is insulin-dependent—whether type 1 or type 2—is unlikely to be approved. It’s not about fitness or mental toughness. It’s about the game not being built for bodies that require medication just to function hour to hour.

No Tech, No Tools, No Chance

Survivor allows two luxury items. None can be technological. Phones are banned. Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), insulin pumps, and smart pens are out. Even if you could bring a CGM receiver, you'd have to manage battery life, signal range, and extreme weather.

Survivor doesn’t allow modern tools because it’s trying to strip players down to the basics. But for many of us with chronic illnesses, those “extras” are the reason we get to live full lives at all. Our "basics" look a little different than someone without diabetes.

The Hygiene Rule? Another Red Flag

Players aren’t allowed personal hygiene items, either. For someone with T1D—who may already be more prone to infections, slow healing, and immune challenges—this is another risk stacked on top of everything else.

Yes, Survivor has medical check-ins. But those medics can’t help you calculate insulin-to-carb ratios. They can’t prevent DKA or hypoglycemia. And they can’t give you food when your blood sugar crashes—even though, for us, food is medicine.

Outwit. Outplay. Outlast.

We already are.

We manage numbers, needles, and nuance every day. We troubleshoot tech and trust our instincts. We do hard things with no million-dollar reward at the end. So yeah—maybe we can’t play Survivor as it stands. But we’re still playing the long game.

And every day we stay in it, advocate for ourselves, and climb our own chronic mountain?

We win.

(I'm ready to start getting paid for each 100 mg/dL reading, in case you're reading, Survivor gods.)

Survivor Meets The Real World Meets Grey's Anatomy

While I'm aware that Survivor in its current state could not support someone who's insulin-dependent, I still hold out hope that one day there could be a version of Survivor that could accommodate people with chronic illnesses who are reliant on life-saving medication like those of us living with type 1 diabetes.

Until then, I propose an alternative approach to CBS that I believe could be both interesting and captivating for the general public, while promoting awareness and reducing stigmas surrounding all types of diabetes.

Perhaps even dismantling some misconceptions we face between types, even within our diabetes communities. All people with all types of diabetes deserve support, active listening, and compassion without judgment.

Here's my pitch:

I suggest that we, as individuals with diabetes, create a reality show where we partner with a loved one who will manage our diabetes for 39 days. During this time, our partners will undergo an intensive crash course in diabetes management, learn to use our tools and technology, and guide us in diet and exercise. We can only guide them on the first day during the crash course or if something extremely dangerous is about to occur, such as our loved one is about to administer 10 units of short-acting insulin instead of long-acting.

I know...chills.

How do you win? The team that achieves the best time in tight range (TTIR) over these 39 days will win $2 million. Essentially, they will assume the role of our pancreas during this period. Challenges might include dosing for pizza, endurance running with type 1 diabetes, trivia on stigma and misconceptions versus facts, and journeys through the history of diabetes where participants could "lose a vote" or "win an idol." (The idols would have to be repurposed from old diabetes tech, obviously.) That's just the beginning!

Contact me to buy my idea, CBS. I'll be waiting.

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At the end of the day, while I'm bummed over why people with type 1 diabetes can't compete on Survivor, I will always be a fan of the show (and encouraging my boyfriend to play for both of us). Will you be watching Survivor season 50? I can't wait to see it unfold!