"I chucked it in the bin and now I sleep like a log" – Raymond van Barneveld feels reborn after ditching Ozempic trial and diabetes medication

After a difficult spell, the pieces seem to be slowly falling back into place for Raymond van Barneveld. The five-time world champion qualified for two Euro Tour events in a single day last week and sees that as a major boost in his bid to reach the World Darts Championship. According to the Hague native, he has also felt much better physically and mentally in recent months after deciding to stop a medication he had used for years.

In the Darts Draait Door podcast, Van Barneveld candidly explains that he has been searching for the cause of his dip in form. That led him to the medication he was taking for his diabetes.

“I’ve been diabetic for years and I have symptoms from that. For example, my vision isn’t always optimal. The doctor prescribed Ozempic for that, and I had to inject once a week to bring my sugar down. I analyzed it, because it made me sleep terribly.”

According to Van Barneveld, he stopped using the drug around two months ago. Since then, he has noticed a clear difference. “I chucked it in the bin and now I sleep like a log. I feel much better and fitter. It could well have been something that made me feel off. I’d been using that stuff for years, so it may have been a disruptor, and I’ve put it aside for a few months now. I feel better and the darts is flowing a bit more. I feel good in myself again and I’m pushing on with confidence.”

Van Barneveld has made a significant change not only on the medical front. He recently moved with his wife Julia to Milton Keynes, England, a decision primarily aimed at making the busy travel schedule on the PDC Tour more manageable.

The Dutchman expects that will help him arrive at tournaments in better shape.

“That’s much better for me, especially in terms of travel time. Previously it was always having to be at the airport hours in advance, delays, long journeys, then getting in the car again in England… Now I’m an hour from Leicester, three hours from Wigan, and it’s ten minutes to the arena in Milton Keynes. That’s all very manageable.”

A critical phase of the season now awaits Van Barneveld. The 59-year-old must earn enough ranking prize money over the coming months to qualify for the PDC World Darts Championship.

His successful qualification for the Euro Tour events in Belgium and Switzerland has improved his prospects. A spot at the Euro Tour in the Netherlands may also follow. Those tournaments offer significantly more prize money than the Players Championships, where Van Barneveld will also need to collect points and pounds.