Urvashi Dholakia, 46, recalls getting diagnosed with diabetes following a tumour surgery: ‘Initially thought I had low blood pressure…’

"During the last week of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, I was not feeling well," said Urvashi Dholakia

Urvashi Dholakia opens up about health (Photo: Urvashi Dholakia/Instagram)

3 min readNew DelhiAug 27, 2025 08:00 AM IST First published on: Aug 27, 2025 at 08:00 AM IST

TV actor Urvashi Dholakia recently revealed that she was diagnosed with a tumour in December 2023, which was immediately operated on. However, it also led her to a diagnosis of diabetes. The actor who participated in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa season 11 in 2023 recalled that after getting eliminated from the dance reality show, she went for a check-up. “During the last week of Jhalak, I was not feeling well. I initially thought I had low blood pressure because I have had it since the age of 10 years. After I got eliminated from Jhalak, exactly a week later, I was away on a shoot. There, I realised something was off regarding my health. A tumour was diagnosed which, within a month, was controlled, operated and removed. But I got diagnosed with diabetes,” Dholakia told comedian Bharti Singh and screenwriter Haarsh Limbachiyaa on their podcast.

During the conversation, she mentioned that, contrary to popular belief, she doesn’t work out. “I don’t work out. No yoga, no gym. I eat everything.”

Is there a connection between tumour removal surgery and diabetes diagnosis?

Can diabetes happen in such a situation? (Photo: Freepik)

Dr Aarti Ullal, physician and diabetologist, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, said sometimes, people discover they have diabetes soon after undergoing surgery or treatment for a tumour. “The tumour removal itself does not directly cause diabetes, but there are a few possible reasons why it happens,” said Dr Ullal.

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According to Dr Ullal, stress on the body due to illness, surgery, or medicines like steroids (often given before or after surgery) can temporarily raise blood sugar. “If the tumour involved glands such as the pancreas, which controls insulin, then its treatment might directly affect blood sugar regulation. In other cases, the diagnosis of diabetes is made only because doctors are checking blood regularly during treatment,” said Dr Ullal.

Lifestyle factors often play a major role, said Dr Manisha Arora, director, internal medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Delhi.

“Many patients with tumours may already have underlying risks such as sedentary habits, lack of exercise, and unhealthy eating patterns. These can contribute significantly to the development of diabetes, but when the tumour is diagnosed, it is often mistakenly seen as the sole cause. In reality, lifestyle-related risks may already have set the stage for diabetes to emerge,” said Dr Arora.

So, the tumour did not create diabetes, but it helped in detecting it sooner, she added.

The good news is that with proper diet, exercise, medicines, and regular monitoring, diabetes can be controlled effectively even after surgery. “Don’t panic that a tumour can lead to diabetes. It is necessary to take medication as suggested by the doctor to manage diabetes,” said Dr Ullal.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.