The talented 22-year-old 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 diabetes, but after being officially diagnosed with the condition, the Rodney Parade ace believes he has now finally got to the bottom of his fitness problems. It’s good news for a player who has struggled on the sidelines.
“In May I wasn’t very well, I’d lost a lot of weight and I had all the main symptoms of having diabetes,” Morgan 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.”
Morgan has four Wales caps to his name and it’s easy to forget he started for Warren Gatland’s side in their quarter-final clash with South Africa at the 2015 World Cup.
Since then injuries have hit hard and his last international appearance came against Samoa in June 2017. Morgan lost one and a half stone last season prior to official confirmation of his diagnosis which set the alarm bells ringing. So, how does an elite athlete deal with the condition?
“Diabetes is part of my life now,” said Morgan. “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.”
Morgan retains hope of earning a Wales recall in the future, but his immediate priority is securing regular rugby with the Dragons.
The Newport-born back has had a lot to deal with in his first few years as a professional including losing his national dual contract in April. Now he hopes the future is bright.
“I’m back fit now and I started training fully this week,” said Morgan, who plans to be in contention for the Dragons’ Guinness PRO14 opener with Benetton on September 1.
“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.”
