The "Dancing with the Stars" partners chatted about the impressive amount of water Joey drinks to manage his liver disease, Gilbert Syndrome
Joey Graziadel and dance partner Jenna Johnson shared, ahem, specific details about how he manages his liver condition along with the physical demands of competing on Dancing with the Stars.
“I have something called Gilbert's syndrome with my liver and I try to be good about it,” Joey, 29, told. “I do drink probably like four to five full things of water during practice.”
Gilbert's syndrome, the Cleveland Clinic explains, “affects the liver’s ability to process bilirubin,” which is produced by the breakdown of red blood cells and makes those with Gilbert's syndrome more prone to jaundice.
As a result, “Joey drinks a lot of water. I think more than the normal human,” Jenna, 30, told.
“I don't really drink water, so it's always shocking to me,” Jenna said. “I'm like, ‘Wow, he can drink a lot and if I drink a sip of water, I got to pee immediately. And he doesn't really have to pee that well.”
“I don't,” Joey told. “If my liver needs it, it's just soaking it all up,” he said of his water intake.
As the Cleveland Clinic explains, Gilbert's is an inherited condition, but “people with Gilbert's syndrome can lead long, healthy lives. They don’t experience long-term health problems from the disease,” but physical exertion, stress, and dehydration can increase the likelihood of developing jaundice.
After people commented on “Joey’s yellow eyes,” the Bachelor alum shared in an Instagram reel that he was diagnosed with the disease in high school.
“I am told that I am healthy. It’s something that does affect the whites of my eyes. It makes it have those jaundice levels which is why they look a little more yellow,” he explained.
“I have to pay attention to drinking more fluids. It is worse when I have stress or lack of sleep, which happens on a TV show.”
“I do appreciate everyone looking out for me and wondering if I’m okay,” he continued. “But to my knowledge, I’m as okay as I can be.”
The Quran - Chapter Al - Insan : 15 - 18
They will be waited on with silver vessels and cups of crystal—
crystalline silver, filled precisely as desired.
And they will be given a drink ˹of pure wine˺ flavoured with ginger
from a spring there, called Salsabîl.
