The Diabetic Athlete
In 1998, two-time Olympic gold medal swimmer Gary Hall Jr. was preparing for the Goodwill Games when his hands suddenly began to shake in the middle of practice. He shrugged it off; after all, he was training up to eight hours a day, burning calories out of the pool as well as through running, weightlifting and boxing. He downed some PowerBars and Gatorade to boost his blood sugar and went back to work. But then he began sucking liquids like a diesel truck, sometimes drinking four gallons of orange juice in one sitting. Soon he couldnt make out the letters on a Pepsi can held at arms length. He had all the telltale signs of diabetes: extreme thirst, blurry vision and fatigue. When he was diagnosed, he was told that his swimming career was over. The doctors said exercise was good in moderation, but not at the level I was at, says Hall. Yet he continued to dive into his sport, revamping his diet and closely monitoring his condition for warning signs. And when he climbed out of the pool in Sydney last year, four more Olympic medals hung around his neck, two of them gold. Hall may be an exceptional case, but he shows that men can pursue active lifestyles, and even exceed their expectations, while managing diabetes. About 16 million Americans have diabetes, and about 2,200 new cases are diagnosed each day. There are two primary kinds of diabetes: Type 2, in which the body lacks sufficient insulin or the ability to use it properly, accounts for more than 85 percent of cases and is generally diagnosed in obese adults over 40. Type 1, in which the pancreas becomes unable to manufacture insulin, usually strikes those under 30 and is the more common condition among active males. Insulin is a protein hormone that enables the body to use sugar and other carbohydrates; it also help Continue reading >>
The Athletes Who Have Triumphed Over Type 1 Diabetes
The athletes who have triumphed over type 1 diabetes Aidan Broddell first displayed symptoms of diabetes when he was 10 Talk of sport and Type 1 diabetes may evoke memories of Gary Mabbutt, the former Tottenham Hotspurdefender who represented his country at the highest level and lifted the UEFA Cup and FA Cup, twice, whilst often having to inject himself with insulin at half-time. But while the physical demands of diabetes are known to many sports fans, the battles that sufferers experience off the pitch, dealing with the psychological repercussions of their condition,are in need of greater recognition. Of the estimated fourmillion people with diabetes in the UK, 10 per centhave Type 1. This means they cannot produce insulin, instead having to self-administer the energy source either though injections or a pump. Its an essential, dailyroutine that can have debilitating emotional side-effects. Research by Diabetes.org.uk shows that people with Type 1 are twice as likely to suffer from depression and more prone to anxiety and eating disorders. But very few diabetics get access to the psychological support they need. Since men in particular struggle to ask for help, young athletes such as Exeter Chiefs' England rugby international Henry Slade , 22, and Southend United footballer Ben Coker , 25, are now encouraging diabetes sufferers to tackle depression head on. Southend United's Ben Coker developed diabetes when he was 15Credit:SNAP With diabetes, you are living with it 24/7, 365 days a year and yet you might just get a couple of hours with your GP each year to discuss it, explains Coker, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 15. When I was first diagnosed my biggest worry was that I may not be able to play football again, he says. Thankfully, the experts Continue reading >>
Helping A Student Athlete With Type 1 Diabetes
Helping a Student-Athlete With Type 1 Diabetes More than 18,000 new cases of Type 1 diabetes are diagnosed each year in people age 20 and younger. It is no secret that exercise and physical activity are important for all kids, especially for youth with diabetes. Not only do exercise and physical activity improve blood glucose control in kids with Type 1 compared to being sedentary (engaging in fewer than 30 minutes a day of activity), but they also improve blood cholesterol and blood pressure , lower body fat content, increase bone and muscle fitness, and improve well-being. Sports are a big part of our culture. Most U.S. high schools have organized team sports, and these activities can become highly competitive as early as middle school. When youth with Type 1 diabetes are athletic, it is key that parents help their children learn to plan ahead to assure they have the opportunity to be their best athletic selves. If your child is an athlete and has Type 1 diabetes, you will need to help him/her balance several factors to enable optimal performance during athletic endeavors. Whether he/she is a competitive or recreational athlete, it is important to optimize both athletic performance and blood glucose levels. Exercise often is more complicated when children are treated with insulin because muscle contractions during activity will cause muscles to take up more blood glucose, which can lead to hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) . The type of athletic activity can affect blood glucose response, as can the time and duration of exercise and the order of activities. Activities that involve aerobic, sprint, or resistance training can result in widely varying blood glucose responses. Many times, your childs insulin doses and food intake will need to be adjusted to prevent hypogl 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 >>
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 >>
For The Win!: Two Olympic Athletes With Diabetes Share Their Amazing Feats In Diabetes Forecast
For the Win!: Two Olympic athletes with diabetes share their amazing feats in Diabetes Forecast With the 2014 Winter Games right around the corner, Diabetes Forecast , the Healthy Living Magazine from the American Diabetes Association, profiles two top-notch athletes who are living proof that people with diabetes can compete in the Olympics. In Let the Games Begin , world-class skier Kris Freeman describes how his diagnosis of type 1 diabetes at age 19 affected his rise to the top. On the verge of realizing a lifelong dream, the young Freeman was suddenly saddled with an unfamiliar body and forced to learn blood glucose managementat 7,000 feet, no less. But thanks to his methodical approach to self-care and rigorous training, Freeman has emerged at the top of his game. Recently chosen for the U.S. cross-country ski team, he will soon head to Sochi, Russia, for his fourth Olympic games. Freeman is also passionate about helping children and serves as an ambassador to diabetes camps around the country on behalf of insulin maker Eli Lilly. And in A Step Ahead , Billy Mills shares what he has been up to since he took home the Olympic gold for the 10,000-meter race in the 1964 Summer Games, about one year after he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Now 75 years old, Mills is a champion for diabetes control and prevention. A member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, he even cofounded a nonprofit organization, Running Strong for American Indian Youth, which helps to combat diabetes among young Native Americans. As he travels the country and the world, Mills inspiring message is one of athletics, healthy eating and celebrating cultural heritage. Also in the February 2014 issue and on the all-new DiabetesForecast.org : Are all carbohydrates created equal? The basics of the glycemic in Continue reading >>
Sky’s The Limit: Role Models With Type 1 Diabetes
A type 1 diabetes diagnosis doesn’t have to hold your child back. Just ask any one of the highly accomplished young people below: They’re living proof that whether your child’s dreams include sports, the arts, parenthood — none of them are off-limits just because of type 1. Read on to find reassurance and inspiration in these amazing young men and women. The possibilities are endless! SNOWBOARDER: Sean Busby In 2004, at age 19, pro snowboarder Sean Busby was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. He was worried about what diabetes would mean for his snowboarding — but soon came across a story online about the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Children’s Congress that changed his perspective. “I read the stories and saw the pictures of these kids, and how some of them knew nothing other than a life with diabetes,” he told JDRF. “They were doing the birthday parties and sleepovers with insulin shots and testing their sugars on first dates. I realized living with type 1 diabetes didn’t have to be different than my old life. I would have to become more responsible, but that wasn’t a bad thing at all.” That year, Busby started an organization called “Riding On Insulin” that holds ski and snowboarding camps around the world for kids with type 1 diabetes. Later, after graduating from the University of Utah with a degree in health promotion and education, he founded Powder Lines, a backcountry mountain-guiding business with the mission of conquering remote and unexplored environments like Patagonia and Antarctica — to demonstrate to youth with type 1 that anything is possible with proper diabetes management. CEO: Phil Southerland Phil Southerland is the founder and CEO of Team Type 1 (TT1), the world’s first professional cycling team to inclu Continue reading >>
Care Of The Athlete With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Clinical Review
Care of the Athlete With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Clinical Review 1Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Mississippi, United States 2Division of Endocrinology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Mississippi, United States 3Department of Medicine, G.V. Montgomery VA Medical Center, Mississippi, Jackson, United States 1Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Mississippi, United States 2Division of Endocrinology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Mississippi, United States 3Department of Medicine, G.V. Montgomery VA Medical Center, Mississippi, Jackson, United States *Corresponding author: William B. Horton, Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N State Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39216, United States. Tel: +1-6019845601, Fax: +1-6019846665, E-mail: [email protected] Received 2016 Jan 6; Revised 2016 Feb 24; Accepted 2016 Mar 1. Copyright 2016, Research Institute For Endocrine Sciences and Iran Endocrine Society This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License ( ) which permits copy and redistribute the material just in noncommercial usages, provided the original work is properly cited. This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) results from a highly specific immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic cells, resulting in chronic hyperglycemia. For many years, one of the mainstays of therapy for patients with T1DM has been exercise balanced with appropriate medications and medical nutrition. Compared to healthy peers, athletes with T1DM experience nearly all the same health-related benefits from exercise. Despite these benefits, effective manag Continue reading >>
A Coach’s Guide To Type 1 Diabetes
What is Type 1? Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that affects a person’s pancreas. The pancreas is responsible for producing insulin, a hormone people need to get energy from food. Our pancreas, for reasons that have not been identified, does not produce any insulin. As a result, we need to inject or continually infuse insulin through a pump and carefully balance our insulin doses with eating and daily activities. We must also regularly monitor our blood-sugar levels. Type 1 is a non-stop and 24/7 balancing act that we must maneuver every day. There is no way to prevent Type 1 and there is no cure (currently!). How do you manage it? We get by with a little help from our friends! These include our glucose meter, insulin, needles and monitors. The glucose meter is a device that measures blood sugar. We use a device that pricks our finger and we put the blood sample onto a test strip. From there, the test strip is read by the meter and gives us a number on the meter screen. We can get insulin into our bodies through multiple daily injections or an insulin pump. Injections are delivered to our bodies through insulin pens and needles. There are two types of insulin that we use: Fast-acting insulin gives our bodies insulin right away and is taken with meals or to correct a high blood sugar. Fast-acting insulin is used multiple times a day, depending on when you eat. The other is long-acting insulin, which is given once a day. Long-acting insulin is a slow release insulin that is given to your body in a span of 24 hours when needed. An insulin pump is a device that is connected to the body, either through a tube or wirelessly. With the control of a device, you are constantly getting insulin through the pump. During meals, we can choose how much insulin to give, and t 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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
Being 2-sport Athlete With Type 1 Diabetes Makes Alabamas Keith Holcombe One Of A Kind
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. They give you an orange to practice on, that part they get right on television. Not just to the child, but especially the parents, because theyre the ones who usually end up giving the injections for the first few years. He was 9 when told he had diabetes. It was a Friday, April 15, tax day, when his blood sugar was so off that he should have been convulsing. The doctor who finally figured out what was wrong told his parents to go straight to the hospital, dont even stop at home to get anything, because they could get him there faster than a dispatched ambulance. Thats a lot for someone that age to take in. Yet when it came time for his first non-administered insulin shot three days later, which his mother was going to do after practicing with the orange all weekend, Holcombe looked up at the nurse and asked Can I do it? I put a lot of the responsibility on myself because all the dreams and aspirations that I had for playing sports at the college level, and maybe going on to the professional level. At first I thought it was over. Instead, Holcombe went home from the hospital on Monday. On Tuesday night he was back playing baseball. Now hes a two-sport standout for the University of Alabama, a linebacker for the national championship football team, and an outfielder whos off to a blistering start in baseball this spring, all while wearing an insulin pump during practices and games. Its under a hip pad for the former, and attached to his back for the latter so he can slide either legs firstor headfirst. Its just something that Ive pushed myself to better myself, he said. Just keep on driving through that. Holcombes mom cried when the diagnosis happened, and he sort of freaked out, not quite knowing what it all meant. But her tears were more relief than a Continue reading >>
Working With Diabetic Athletes: Part 1
Many people with type 1 diabetes and other insulin users are engaged in physically demanding exercise programs. These two things Insulin and Exercise can be a deadly combination for our patients. This week Dr. Sheri Colberg, Ph.D., FACSM brings us part 1 of a series on Working with Diabetic Athletes Working with Diabetic Athletes: Part 1 Effects of Insulin on Exercise Glycemia By Sheri Colberg, Ph.D., FACSM Many people with type 1 diabetes and other insulin users are engaged in physically demanding exercise programs. Some of them participate in and excel at the top level of competitive sports, including swimming, golf, football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, soccer, marathons, triathlons, and many others. To perform competitively, they need a greater understanding of the effects of circulating levels of insulin on exercise responses, the physiological response to different types of activities, and the effects of nutrition on performance. To assist these athletes in achieving optimal glycemic control and their athletic goals, practitioners themselves need to become educated in these areas. Effects of Insulin on Exercise Glycemia Unlike nondiabetic individuals whose bodies normally maintain blood glucose levels in a very tight range, athletes with type 1 diabetes must constantly adjust their insulin and food intake to balance blood glucose levels during physical activity. Any type of physical activity promotes the uptake of glucose into active muscle cells additively with insulin, but insulin and muscle contractions oppose each other’s effect on fuel availability from hepatic glucose output and lipid mobilization. Therefore, the correct timing and dosage of insulin is the key to effective glucose management during exercise, and athletes and practitioners need to car Continue reading >>
