Athletes With Diabetes: How Jay Cutler Tackles Type 1
Pro-bowler and NFL quarterbackJay Cutler is a shining example of how to successfully manage diabetes andachieve greatness Think diabetes can stop you from becoming a pro-football player? Think again. Jay Cutler is one of many professional athletes who is proving that even though diabetes is a game-changer, its not the end-game. Cutler had an exceptional track record before receivinghis T1D diagnosis. He led his Vanderbilt University team past the University of Tennessee for a 2824 win in their 2005 season, the first since 1982, in addition to being one of the Commodores greatest offensive players of all time. As the third-best quarterback in the 2006 NFL draft, Cutler was picked up by the Denver Broncos he was at the top of his game. But in 2007, while with the Broncos, he experienced significant, unexplained weight loss and reported feelings of fatigue in the 2007 season. In April of 2008, at age 25, Jay Cutler received a type one diabetes diagnosis. I was aware I was having an issue one time last year against Kansas City. It was early in the game, first or second series, and I just didnt feel rightI felt out of it a little, shaky. What does a NFL quarterback do when given a T1D diagnosis? I went the whole summer just kind of dealing with it and figuring it out, test driving insulins to see what worked, what didnt work, what my numbers were, Cutler told ESPN . Jay had to adjust quickly to blood sugar testing. How does a newly diagnosed T1D maintain diabetes while playing a NFL game? I try to enter the game in the 80s knowing that when the game starts and adrenaline kicks in that I will jump up 20 to 30 points. Throughout the gameI monitor & check my sugars periodically to make sure Im still in a healthy range. Despite this major life change, Cutler was named player of Continue reading >>
The Importance Of Team Support In Overcoming The Challenges Of Living With Diabetes
What if you had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a child? What if you had to manage this disease for years with continual blood testing and endless insulin shots? What if you decided to work your way into becoming an athlete while battling this disease? Furthermore, what if you put your struggles on your back and became an athlete competing at the highest national and international levels? This is what athletes on Team Novo Nordisk do. The Team Type 1 Foundation (TT1) is a non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia that strives to instill hope and empowerment in those battling Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Recently, the Team Type 1 Foundation announced plans for 2015 that include an expanded Global Ambassador Scholarship Program which will up the number of scholarships available to collegiate athletes in the U.S. with type 1 diabetes, and a new outreach platform in Rwanda to increase access to medicine and management tools for people living with diabetes. With COO Marc O’ Connor on the Board of Directors, Curant Health has personally witnessed the amount of strength and inspiration this organization evokes. TT1 was the first organization to create a professional cycling team to include athletes with type 1 diabetes. This team evolved into a world-class cycling program and eventually expanded to become Team Novo Nordisk in 2013. With a program consisting of over 100 elite cyclists, runner and triathletes with diabetes, Team Novo Nordisk has brought an unprecedented global awareness to T1D. While other world class cyclists need to worry about preparing for a race and eating for energy, Team Novo Nordisk riders must keep their diabetes management at the forefront before, during and after the event. All of the riders have T1D, including members Kevin De Mesmaeker an Continue reading >>
National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Management Of The Athlete With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Management of the Athlete With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus We are experimenting with display styles that make it easier to read articles in PMC. The ePub format uses eBook readers, which have several "ease of reading" features already built in. The ePub format is best viewed in the iBooks reader. You may notice problems with the display of certain parts of an article in other eReaders. Generating an ePub file may take a long time, please be patient. National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Management of the Athlete With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Carolyn C Jimenez, PhD, ATC, Matthew H Corcoran, MD, CDE, [...], and Michael C Riddell, PhD Objective: To present recommendations for the certified athletic trainer in the management of type 1 diabetes in the athlete. Background: In managing diabetes, the most important goal is to keep blood glucose levels at or as close to normal levels as possible without causing hypoglycemia. This goal requires the maintenance of a delicate balance among hypoglycemia, euglycemia, and hyperglycemia, which is often more challenging in the athlete due to the demands of physical activity and competition. However, effectively managing blood glucose, lipid, and blood pressure levels is necessary to ensuring the long-term health and well-being of the athlete with diabetes. Recommendations: These recommendations are intended to provide the certified athletic trainer participating in the management of an athlete with type 1 diabetes mellitus with the specific knowledge and problem-solving skills needed. Athletic trainers have more contact with the athlete with diabetes than most members of the diabetes management team do and so must be prepared to assist the athlete as require Continue reading >>
Great Athletes With Type 1 Diabetes
As a young diabetic, one of the most challenging adjustments to make after my diagnosis was figuring out how to continue participating in the sports that I had already been playing. Fortunately, by working with my parents and doctors, I was able to continue competing in the sports I loved. With advancements in diabetes management, this is now easier than ever. At one time, a type 1 diabetic person excelling in sports would have been unthinkable. Now, however, diabetes is a small side note in the story of many excellent athletes. With the advent and integration of health informatics into diabetes care, it is easier than ever for diabetic athletes to communicate with their healthcare team and figure out routines that work for them. Through the electronic collection, storage, and continuous analysis of blood sugar data, doctors and patients are now able to make more accurate, informed, and constant adjustments to management routines. This ability is a game changer for diabetic athletes, for whom precise blood sugar control is key. Moving forward, this will only continue to improve as healthcare technology continues to embrace the incredible rise of mobile technology, and patients have even greater abilities to communicate with their doctors. These improvements do not mean that being a world-class athlete as a diabetic is simple, or easy, however. By looking at some of the greatest type 1 diabetic athletes in history, all of us can learn a great deal from both their successes and hardships. It is also important for the diabetic community to celebrate the achievements of these athletes. Jay Cutler: American Football Jay Cutler has been the most notable recent diabetic athlete. This is because Cutler was already in the NFL at the time of his diagnosis, and is already one of t Continue reading >>
14 Winning Athletes With Diabetes
A few weeks ago, Kyle Love was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This week he lost his job over the diagnosis. That’s the black and white truth. You could explain away the situation because Kyle Love happened to have been a defensive tackle for the New England Patriots. After the diagnosis he dropped 30 pounds off his 310 pound frame, thereby causing the team to cut him with a “non-football illness designation.” In plain English, Kyle Love was fired because he has diabetes. But he’s not alone, there are dozens of athletes with diabetes, many of them legendary. This week I am off on another journey with Team Diabetes. Over the past 5 years, I have raised more than $25 000 to help people living with diabetes, and pre-diabetes. The money I raise goes to research, support programs, and awareness. Awareness is the central point of what Team Diabetes is about. As we do our fundraising, we are telling everyone about diabetes, the importance of being active, and having a healthy diet. It’s too bad I couldn’t sit down with the New England Patriots and explain to them that athletes with diabetes is not a ‘firing offence.’ Bill Belichick, and the rest of the Patriots front office, the message you are sending to kids with diabetes is terrible. Instead of keeping an athlete who could act as a role model to tens of thousands of kids, you are cutting him loose – deeming him broken and worthless. Athletes with diabetes are not broken. It’s treatable, and manageable. In fact, Kyle Love has been managing his Type 2 diagnosis and is ready to ball this fall. Shame on you, Pats. Just check out this list of athletes with diabetes who went on to huge success. **UPDATE** The moment Love was put on waivers, the Jacksonsville Jaguars picked him up. Looks like I’ve got a new f Continue reading >>
Diabetes In The Competitive Athlete
Harris, George D. MD, MS; White, Russell D. MD, FACSM Department of Community & Family Medicine, Sports Medicine Fellowship Program, University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO Address for correspondence: Russell D. White, MD, FACSM, University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, 7900 Lees Summit Road, Kansas City, MO; E-mail: [email protected] . Diabetes mellitus is the most common group of metabolic diseases and is characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Most patients with diabetes are type 2 (90%); the remaining patients have type 1 disease. Athletes with diabetes range from the athlete participating in various youth sports to the competitive Olympic athlete and present a significant challenge to themselves and the medical staff who care for them on a daily basis. Each sport and the type of exercise have their own effects on diabetes management with numerous factors that significantly affect glucose levels, including stress, level of hydration, the rate of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, and the secretion of counter-regulatory hormones. This article provides a general overview of diabetes mellitus, the effects of exercise on glucose levels, and a detailed review of the potential complications encountered in the management of diabetes in the athlete. Athletes with diabetes range from the athlete participating in various youth sports to the competitive Olympic athlete. Each athlete presents a significant challenge to themselves and the medical staff caring for them. They are at risk for acute hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis and chronic complications involving microvascular and macrovascular disease. As a physician caring for athletes with diabetes, it is important to Continue reading >>
Even Endurance Athletes Are At Risk For This
Share it: With their healthy regimes, athletes often feel immune to the conditions faced by those making less optimal lifestyle choices. With low resting heart rates, regimented workout schedules and clean eating habits, endurance athletes are the last people you’d expect to be candidates for something like Type 2 diabetes. But it happens. I know because I am living proof. I am a triathlete and marathoner and was diagnosed with prediabetes a few years ago. My fasting blood sugar level is 109 mg/dL, falling in the prediabetes zone (100–125 mg/dL is considered prediabetes; anything higher indicates Type 2 diabetes). I am not alone; prediabetes is actually quite common. According to a July 2017 press release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 84.1 million Americans have prediabetes. This means more than 1/3 of U.S. adults have prediabetes, but only 11.6% are aware of it. Why? Eki Abrams, MD, of PlushCare, a telehealth provider, says prediabetes typically does not present itself with symptoms, which is the scariest thing about it. WHAT IS PREDIABETES? “Prediabetes is defined as blood sugars that are elevated, but below levels that would indicate diabetes,” says Robert Ziltzer, MD, of the Scottsdale Weight Loss Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Elevated blood sugars damage arterial blood vessels, leading to increased risk of heart attack and stroke.” This means prediabetes is not simply a warning sign; people with it already increase their risk of grave health problems. And worse, if they do not make lifestyle changes, many people develop Type 2 diabetes within five years. The condition is often associated with diet and genetic predisposition, according to Karolyn Boyd, a kinesiologist and author of “Food Freedom How to Begin Your Path of Self-M Continue reading >>
Should Diabetic Athletes Wear Compression Socks?
Compression socks that are developed for athletes serve a very different purpose than diabetic socks. Although both diabetics and athletes wear compressions socks to help increase blood flow to their lower extremities, not all compression socks are made equal, so using your diabetic socks for sports (or vice versa) could have some dire effects. Here are the main differences: Compression Rates Diabetic compression socks usually provide compression rates that are either in the 8-15 mmHg range or the 12-16 mmHg range. Compression socks for diabetics are developed to provide pressure that starts out tight at the bottom, then gradually lessens as it moves up the leg. Athletic compression socks, on the other hand, are developed in a wider number of ranges, many of which are designated for the sport or type of athlete that will wear them. Compression rates can range from 8-15 mmHg all the way up to 30-40 mmHg, a level that would often be deemed too restrictive by clinicians who treat diabetics. Purpose Diabetic compression socks are mainly used to help streamline the blood flow in the veins – due to poor venous pressure, many diabetics develop weak veins in which the blood flows in both directions, providing less circulation. Diabetic socks are also built to provide better protection against ulcers by reducing chafing that is common with standard socks and stockings. Some diabetic compression socks even have anti-bacterial agents built into the fabric to minimize the bacteria that could prompt an infection. Athletic compression socks, on the other hand, are built to help improve the athlete’s endurance during their race as well as the reduce recovery time. Although athletic compression socks are designed to help make blood flow more effectively as well, they are also built Continue reading >>
List Of Sportspeople With Diabetes
Improvements in the management of diabetes mellitus in the twentieth century have made it possible for athletes to compete in sport at a professional level. While it is rare for professional athletes to have type 2 diabetes, a number of notable athletes have type 1. Literature on the management of diabetes in competitive sports focuses on the difficulties with balancing energy and insulin intake during periods of strenuous exercise.[1] The following is a list of notable sportspeople who have had diabetes during their careers. It does not include athletes diagnosed after retirement. Water-Polo Keegan Coleman, Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens (2017-current) driver/attacker, type 1 American football[edit] Jay Cutler, Denver Broncos (2006–2008) and Chicago Bears (2009–2016) quarterback, type 1.[2] Mike Echols, Tennessee Titans (2002–2004) cornerback, type 1.[3] Kendall Simmons, Pittsburgh Steelers (2002–2008) guard, type 1.[4] Jake Byrne, San Diego Chargers, tight end, type 1[5] John Chick, Saskatchewan Roughriders (2007–2009, 2013–), Indianapolis Colts (2010–11), Jacksonville Jaguars (2011–2012) defensive end, type 1[6] Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals (2011–); cornerback, type 2 Mark Andrews, Oklahoma Sooners, tight end, type 1[7] Australian rules football[edit] Nathan Bassett, Adelaide, type 1.[8] Jamie Cripps, St Kilda and West Coast, type 1.[9] Jack Fitzpatrick, Melbourne, Hawthorn type 1.[10] Brandon Jack, Sydney, type 1.[11] Paddy McCartin, St Kilda, type 1.[12] Sam Reid, Western Bulldogs and Greater Western Sydney, type 1.[8] Dale Weightman, Richmond, type 1.[8] Baseball[edit] Ron Santo, Chicago Cubs (1960–1973) and Chicago White Sox (1974) infielder, type 1, deceased (2010 at age 70). Sam Fuld, Chicago Cubs (2007–2010), Tampa Bay Rays (2011–2013), Continue reading >>
Diabetes – How It Affects Athletes And Ways To Combat It
Diabetes – how athletes can beat the sugar blues Contrary to popular belief, the soaring incidence of diabetes is not confined to the elderly or obese; athletes can and do suffer from diabetes and the chances are that some of you reading this will go on to develop the condition in years to come. However, as John Bye explains, the right management techniques mean that sufferers can still train and compete at the highest level In 1997 Steve Redgrave was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In 2000 he won his fifth consecutive Olympic gold; in doing so he proved that diabetic athletes can achieve great things with the right approach. As Sir Steve Redgrave’s case demonstrates, diabetes mellitus is not a problem restricted to the obese, as the popular press might have you believe. According to Diabetes UK, there are currently over 2m diagnosed and 750,000 undiagnosed diabetics in the UK, while according to the American Diabetes Association, the USA has 14.6m diagnosed sufferers, 6.2m undiagnosed sufferers and an astonishing 54m pre-diabetics (ie at risk)! This article aims to arm athletes and coaches with the following information about this increasingly common problem: The similarities and differences between the two types of diabetes mellitus, their causes, symptoms, diagnosis, complications and treatment; The need for pre-exercise screening of diabetics; The benefits and risks of exercise for people with diabetes; Some special considerations for athletes with diabetes; Sources of further information. What is diabetes mellitus? Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the level of glucose in the blood is too high because the body is unable to process it properly due to either a lack of, or insensitivity to, the hormone insulin. Glucose is an essential fuel, derive Continue reading >>
Everything You Need To Know About Being An Athlete With Diabetes
What do Scott Verplank (5 time PGA tour winner), Jay Cutler (Quarterback for the Denver Broncos and the Chicago Bears), and Jackie Robinson (Brooklyn Dodgers) all have in common? Besides having achieved immense success in their sports career, they have also achieved a measure of success when managing their diabetes. Had they not managed their diabetes very well, it is safe to say that they would have not been at the top of their careers. Their performance would have been impeded by signs and symptoms of low or high blood sugar. When not performing at their best on a professional team, sportsmen can be fired for poor performance. So if an athlete is managing their diabetes, they should not be kept from playing professional or any kind of sports when they have the ability to do so. With all of their team mates counting on them, athletes with diabetes have a lot to think about, prepare for, and do, because of the added complexity that their diabetes brings to the playing field. There is a list of people in sports with diabetes on Wikipedia. Looking at the length of the list, it is clear that it is possible to succeed in just about any sport with diabetes. There are literally people with diabetes in every sport imaginable. There are people in football, baseball, basketball, canoe slalom, cricket, cycling, soccer, golf, ice hockey, and more. What does it take to be an athlete with diabetes? To be a successful athlete with diabetes, it is going to take some stellar self-management skills. The most important thing that an athlete with diabetes has to worry about is low blood sugars. With proper nutrition and strict control, you too can hit the ball out of the park, or reach the finish line, (all without episodes of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia). Hard work or low blood sugar? Continue reading >>
Tips For Type 1 Student-athletes
When participating in athletic activities, have a plan in place to assure your child has the necessary items to help keep blood glucose in optimal control. As a parent of a high school athlete, you often will not be present at practices or even some far away games. These tips can help when putting together a plan. Talk with your childs diabetes care team ahead of time to determine any insulin dose changes needed for sports activities. Talk with your childs coach and/or trainer before the season begins to ensure they know about his/her diabetes and all requirements for breaks, water, food, and blood glucose monitoring. Be sure your childs coach, trainer, teammates, and/or a designated adult know the signs, symptoms and treatment for hypoglycemia . Make sure your child checks his/her blood glucose before exercise and that his/her meter and supplies are packed. Make sure your child will agree to delay activity if his/her blood glucose level is higher than 240 mg/dl and moderate to large ketones are present in his/her urine. A coach/athletic trainer also should be aware of this. Pack a source of glucose (tablets or gel) with your childs supplies in case of hypoglycemia. If hypoglycemia occurs, treat with 15 to 20 grams of glucose (preferred source); recheck glucose in 15 minutes and repeat treatment if needed. Have snacks available to prevent hypoglycemia such as: Be sure your child drinks water, water and more water to stay hydrated. Make sure your child knows to take a break after one hour to check blood glucose. It might be helpful to designate a teammate or trainer to remind him/her. Check blood glucose more often after exercising because the effects of exercise on blood glucose can last 24 to 48 hours. Return to Helping a Student-Athlete With Type 1 Diabetes Sheri Col Continue reading >>
Athletes With Type 1 Diabetes
If you’re an athlete who has Type-1 diabetes, you know how important it is to keep your blood sugar under excellent control. Blood sugar levels have a direct impact on strength, speed, stamina, flexibility and healing capabilities – all essential components of success in sport and fitness activities. There have been many athletes with diabetes who have excelled in their chosen sport (see athletes with diabetes list at bottom of page). But it isn’t without its challenges. Different forms of exercise can have very different effects on blood sugar, particularly when adrenal hormones start to kick in. Recovery from an exercise session may take blood sugar levels to strange and exotic places. What’s more, around-the-clock control is necessary for maintaining appropriate hydration and energy stores for athletic performance. Integrated Diabetes Services is led by one of the few certified diabetes educators who also happens to be a masters-level exercise physiologist. While not exactly a “world-class” athlete, Gary Scheiner participates and competes in a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. He served on the Board of Directors for the Diabetes Exercise & Sports Association for many years (now Insulindependence), and advises athletes and exercise enthusiasts with diabetes worldwide. In 2006 he received the Julie Betshart Award for the study of exercise and diabetes by the American Association of Diabetes Educators. He continues to speak nationally and internationally for both patients and healthcare professionals on exercise, diabetes and blood sugar control. Through his personal and professional experiences, Gary has helped athletes at all levels to incorporate new techniques for controlling blood sugar and enhancing athletic performance. He and his team of Continue reading >>
Cutler Has Type 1 Diabetes, Career Not In Jeopardy
Cutler has Type 1 diabetes, career not in jeopardy ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Jay Cutler realizes he should have recognized something was wrong last season when lost 35 pounds and some zip on his famous fastballs. Jay Cutler lost 35 pounds last season when he didn't know he had Type 1 diabetes. "I had no energy," the Denver Broncos ' third-year quarterback said Friday. "We thought it might be stress and the grind of going through a whole season. But once I got back here and started working out again, I just wasn't making any improvement. I wasn't getting any stronger. I was still losing weight." Routine blood tests that are required before players participate in the team's offseason strength and conditioning program revealed the answer: His sugars were about five times higher than normal. The 25-year-old quarterback met with doctors last month, who told him he's an insulin-dependent diabetic. He got a crash course in the disease and its ramifications if uncontrolled. "It's a little overwhelming to get that news and realize you're going to have to completely change your life," said Cutler, who accepted his fate after a few days. "It's not something that's going to go away," Cutler said. "It's something I'm going to have to deal with my entire life and you've got to come to grips with that." He said he never worried about his career being in jeopardy. "No. That's the first thing they said to me: 'It's going to affect your lifestyle a little bit, but you'll be able to continue to play football,'" Cutler said. "I'm not the first athlete to get diabetes and I won't be the last." Other professional athletes who dealt with diabetes and had successful careers include NFL quarterback Wade Wilson; tennis stars Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King, Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr., NHL star Bo Continue reading >>
Steve's Story
After his victory in the rowing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Sir Steve Redgrave became the only British athlete to win five consecutive Olympic gold medals. But what many people don't realise is that Sir Steve achieved this final triumph against all the odds. Three years before the Sydney Olympics, he discovered he had diabetes. "It was November 1997 and I had this tremendous thirst coming back from training one day," he says. "After drinking three or four pints of fluids, I knew something wasn't quite right." Sir Steve's grandfather was also diabetic, so the athlete wasn't totally ignorant of the condition. While training abroad, he and his team mates were given dipsticks to test their dehydration levels, and Sir Steve could also test his urine for sugar levels. "For some reason I decided to do my own test, and it came back positive," he says. "I called my wife, who's a doctor, and she suggested going to see my GP. "My blood sugar level was 32 [the norm is somewhere between 4 and 7], and I was sent to see a specialist. From that day on I've been taking insulin." The Olympic champion was 35 years old when he was diagnosed with type 2, or adult-onset, diabetes, where the body doesn't make enough insulin or the cells in the body don't use insulin properly. He thought it was the end of his career. "The little I knew about diabetes was that there were few sportspeople with the condition competing at the level I wanted to be at. I thought it was impossible to be diabetic and do what I did, so obviously I was a little depressed. "I took it in my stride to some extent, because I'd already achieved four Olympic gold medals. "But after a consultation, my specialist said he didn't see any reason why I couldn't achieve my dreams in Sydney. He said it wouldn't be straightforward, a Continue reading >>
