The Athlete and Diabetes

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Diabetics can be found in all walks of life, and the sporting arena is no different. Despite the seriousness of the disease, with knowledge, proper control, and support, the diabetic can excel in a variety of sports. There have been many successful athletes and sports personalities who have had diabetes but were able to control their illness enough to not interfere with their activities. Three famous athletes who had diabetes are the boxing great Joe Frazier, one of baseball’s top hitters Ty Cobb, and tennis star Arthur Ashe. For an athlete to be comfortable, that person needs to know that help will be available in the rare case of a medical emergency. As such, the coach or physical fitness trainer has to be aware of the athlete’s diabetic condition.

Diabetes has not stopped some of the world’s greatest athletes from excelling at their chosen sports. As case in point, Arthur Ashe, Joe Frazier and Ty Cobb, three famous sporting personalities, were diabetics. Athletes with diabetes need to arm themselves with the information necessary to make informed choices concerning their health and the control of their diabetes. It is also important that coaches, school personnel, or sports administration know that an athlete is diabetic, as well being aware of the possible complications and treatment. If you are an athlete with diabetes, know that through proper control, your diabetes will not stop you from being a team player and doing well.

With proper management, the diabetic can successfully compete and excel in almost any sport he or she chooses, and in fact, physical activity can be good for keeping weight in check and overall health levels at good ones. Some of the sporting world’s most celebrated athletes have been diabetics. Arthur Ashe, Ty Cobb, and Joe Frazier are just three famous sports people. However, athletes with diabetes must make their coaches and other relevant personnel aware of their health status.

Athletes with diabetes compete in a wide variety of sports, including marathons, cycling, and football. What these athletes do, as should any person with diabetes wanting to compete in sports or exercise, is take responsibility for their disease. Taking responsibility means doing the following:

Testing your blood sugar before you start playing and right after you stop
Test every half hour while playing if the activity is intense
If your blood sugar levels are too high, avoid playing until you have lowered them through medication
Do not play immediately after eating. A one-hour delay is advisable in most cases
Wear proper-fitting shoes as diabetics tend to have poor circulation

To be successful as an athlete, even with diabetes, there must be collaboration and knowledge-sharing between your coach, doctors, and sports administrators. Because physical activities lower the amount of sugar in the blood stream, diabetic athletes should ensure that coaches know the symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Not giving people information should an emergency occur can place others in a bad position if you, one day, really do need help.

The diabetic athlete needs to form a partnership with their doctor, trainers, and others that directly impact their activities. Coaches and first aid personnel need to know the symptoms of complications that can affect a diabetic athlete, such as hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Believing that an emergency situation will never happen is irresponsible and can place others in a frightening situation while making them powerless to help you or control the problem.

Because the athlete with diabetes may suffer complications due to the illness, it is necessary to provide information on these conditions to coaches and sports personnel. Most importantly, trainers should have information on hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia which result from high or low glucose levels in the blood stream. Don’t depend on the fact that you know what to do to manage diabetes - you’ll need others to know what to do as well in an emergency situation that could easily arise from high levels of physical activity.

As a diabetic, you should know your body and its response to too much or too little sugar. Once you feel that something is wrong, stop and get medical attention. Wear a medical bracelet just in case something happens, so that medical personnel on hand will know what to do if you are unable to tell them. Lastly, discuss your plans with your doctor. If you are a teenager, getting involved with a support group of other teens with diabetes will be a great motivating force.

The diabetic athlete should be in tune with his or her body, recognizing every signal that it sends. Seek medical help if you feel that something is wrong; it’s always better to err on the side of caution. It is a good idea to get a medic alert bracelet so that help can be given if the need arises. Getting the support of your doctor is necessary, as he or she can provide you will valuable medical information. Becoming involved with support groups can be a great source of encouragement, especially if you are an adolescent.

There are number of must-dos for the athlete with diabetes, which include wearing a medical bracelet and joining support groups for encouragement and motivation. The diabetic athlete must also be aware of his or her body’s responses to changes in sugar and insulin levels. Knowing these changes will alert them that they need to take medication or rest, as the case may be.