Fighting for a CURE!

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Monday, September 19, 2011

Athletes with Type 1 Diabetes

So over the weekend Rial started to feel sorry for himself & started to say things like "I'm never going to be able to play professional sports" "I'm never going to be able to play in the NFL" "It's so frustrating to have Diabetes, why can't i just go back to being normal?" etc.. Well as a parent your heart automatically starts to sink but also as a parent you have to pick them back up and not let those feelings get in the way of doing whatever it is you want to do in life. There are many of people in your same position or worse still living out their dreams and not letting this stand in their way. So I thought I would compose a list of Athletes living out their dream all while having Type 1. 


Wasim Akram was diagnosed with diabetes at the peak of his career but depite the initial blow, he managed to regain his form and went on to produce fine cricketing performances. Since then he has actively sought to be involved in various awareness-raising campaigns for diabetes.


A Canadian native, Byle first received public attention as a result of his tireless efforts to organize his nationwide run, Dash for Diabetes, in 1997. Despite taking five insulin shots per day and managing a strict athletic diet, Byle managed to run over 6000 km across Canada, proving exactly how much a person with diabetes is capable of. 


Nick Boynton played for the Boston Bruins prior to joining the Phoenix Coyotes. He was drafted in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by Boston (he was orininally drafted bu the Washington Capitals in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft) Shortly before his first training camp, he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes but the diease has no affted his ability to play hockey.
He has also created a video: Advise for young Athletes with Type 1


Doug Burns is an internationally repected fitness consultant and record-holding strength athlete. Doug has also had type 1 diabetes since the age of seven. Initially misdiagnosed with the flu, Doug's health quickly declined until he was brought to the emergency room with ketoacidosis and a blood sugar over 700.


Champion snowboarder Sean Busby, 21, is in training for the 2010-2014 Olympics. As a nationally ranked snowboarder, Busby is known for his events in Slalom and Giant Slalom. Although he has only been snowboarding professionally for a few years, his dedication and determination as an athlete and an individual has brought him to the top of his game. To this day Sean has not let his disease defeat him. "Diabetes has tried very hard to stop me from being an athlete," he said. "It will continue to do that, but it will never win. This friend that will remain with me for the rest of my life until a cure is found is not going to determine how I live my life."


Jay Cutler began his career in the NFL as the 11th pick of the 2006 draft for the Denver Broncos and is currently with the Chicago Bears. On May 1, 2008 Jay Cutler revealed that he had been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and would need daily insulin shots for treatment.


Missy Foy is an extremely well-known long distance runner who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 33. Her most outstanding accomplishment was in 2000 when she became the first athlete with diabetes to qualify for the Olympic Marathan trails. In 2005 she was ranked #1 world ranking for a 50-mile trail race. 


Professional surfer Scott Dunton was hit by a major wave at the age of 16 when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Living the typical teen-age life, he had to learn how to take control of this new disease and in doing so,, take control of his health and his life. Scott is now ranked 119 by the professional World Tour of Surfing. When the Hawaii resident isn't surfing, he's golfing, hunting, or traveling.


Throughout all of Gary Hall Jr. success in swimming he has had to struggle with keeping you with his type 1 diabetes. hall was diagnosed in 1999 and was faced with a decision whether or not to give up on his career. Hall did stop swimming for a short while after being diagnosed, he quickly came back to the game to break a world record in the men's 50-meter freestyle race with a time of 21.76 at the 2000 Olympic Games. 


These are just some people who have gone on to do great things regardless of having Type 1 Diabetes. They just know what they have to do, they understand how their bodies react in certain situations and take it from there. 


SPECIAL MESSAGE: I know you can be anything you want to be, YOU just have to have the drive, determination & heart to do it!


-Nessa

4 comments:

  1. Cool blog!!
    I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in April of this year at the age of 43 and lost so much weight and muscle. I thought I'd never be able to live an active life style like I have my whole life. I had no energy and I could not keep up with my 2 kids but once my glucose numbers got better I took the kids and the dog on daily walks. Soon after that I set a goal to ride my bike in a 1 hundred mile tour called Tour de Cure and I was ready after riding my bike 6 days a week. Before the tour I rode a total of 1400 miles. I did the 100 miles in 5 hours 50 minutes. I didn't stop riding after the tour. I still have been riding. It helps me control my blood sugar and I love being active. As I look back, I just can't believe how fragile I was but with the help of my doctors, wife, kids and the grace of God I was able to get back in shape and loving life.

    Rial looks to be a strong young man. I know that Diabetes won't stop him.

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  2. Thank you Anonymous, I will share your comment with my son. There is only so much I can say to him to make him feel better, but when it comes from someone who is in the same position, I think he feels like he is not alone in this world & I am ever so grateful for your comment & strength.

    Be well,
    Vanessa

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  3. Go look up Jay Hewitt - he is an Ironman with Type 1 diabetes and speaks frequently! We have been blessed to hear him twice and my kids got to meet him. Two of my children have type 1 - my daughter Kiley was dx at 6 and is 15 now and an intense equestrian athlete - she was just accepted into a high level training program in another state. Our son Aman (adopted as an older child) is 16 and also has type 1, since he was twelve in Ethiopia. We are really working to help our athlete(s) be able to perform at the levels they want to while they live with this disease.
    I will be blogging about it soon, though my blog has mostly been about life, adoption, and faith so far. http://mommyturtle.blogspot.com.

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  4. There are and have been several baseball players with type 1: Ron Santo, Bill Gullickson, Sam Fuld, Jason Johnson, plus a few Hockey players.

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