Athletes Who Are Diabetic?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,
  • Walt Arnold (former football player, Kansas City Chiefs)
  • Bill Carlson (Ironman triathlete)
  • Bobby Clark (former hockey player, Philadelphia Flyers)
  • Jay Cutler (former quarterback, multiple teams)
  • James “Buster” Douglas (professional boxer)

Are there any NBA players with diabetes?

There are quite a few basketball players to note who have played professionally with type 1 , including

Adam Morrison

. Morrison won the 2006 Chevrolet Player of the Year award and two NBA championships playing for Los Angeles Lakers.

How common is diabetes in athletes?

After analyzing the data,

three out of the 10 athletes had fasting blood glucose levels in the prediabetic range

(100-125 mg/dL). Prediabetes, as defined by the American Diabetes Association, is a precursor to diabetes and roughly 25% of prediabetics will develop diabetes after five years.

Does diabetes affect athletic performance?


People with either Type 1 or Type 2 DM can reach very high levels of athletic performance

. Once they reach this level of accomplishment, they have learned how to coordinate their carbohydrate and/or insulin administration regimens so that they can compete without severe changes in blood glucose concentrations.

Can diabetics be muscular?


People with diabetes can build muscle

. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Your potential to build muscle is directly correlated to your level of motivation to keep blood glucose levels in control.

Why do athletes get diabetes?

Researchers have found that

elite endurance athletes have insulin sensitivity that is roughly three times higher than healthy nonathletes

, meaning they can rapidly get the sugar they consume out of their bloodstream and into their muscles without having to produce excessive amounts of insulin.

What footballers are diabetic?

Celebrity footballers


Danny McGrain and Andy Penman

are other retired footballers who have diabetes, while Scott Alla, a Scottish midfielder with type 1 diabetes, currently plays for Hibernian.

Are there any professional athletes with type 1 diabetes?


Sam Fuld

. For those who think athletes with type 1 diabetes are timid, Sam Fuld is the counterargument. The outfielder made a Major League Baseball career out of diving for hard hit balls for several teams, as well as Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic.

Can diabetes go away?

According to recent research,

type 2 diabetes cannot be cured

, but individuals can have glucose levels that return to non-diabetes range, (complete remission) or pre-diabetes glucose level (partial remission) The primary means by which people with type 2 diabetes achieve remission is by losing significant amounts of …

Do runners have lower blood sugar?

There are many factors that go into managing your diabetes on race day. Running is considered an aerobic activity, which

often results in a drop in glucose

.

Do runners have higher blood sugar?

According to Hutchinson's article in Outside Magazine, researchers found that

elite endurance athletes have insulin sensitivity that is roughly three times higher than healthy non-athletes

, meaning they rapidly get the sugar they consume out of their bloodstream and into their muscles without having to produce …

Can runners develop diabetes?

But Reusch stresses there are other factors

runners can't control that could lead them to develop Type 2 diabetes

, especially family history. “Running is a great preventative strategy, but if you have the wrong parents, you might still develop diabetes,” she says.

Can a diabetic be in the Olympics?

Over 11,300 athletes from more than 200 countries are currently competing, across 50 disciplines, for a coveted gold, silver or bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Living with diabetes is no obstacle to competing at the highest level.

Do athletes have higher a1c?


Athletes showed a consistent trend towards higher HbA1c values

, reaching statistical significance between sedentary individuals and professional cyclists (5.2 +/- 0.3% versus 5.4 +/- 0.2%; p = 0.017).

Is running good for diabetics?


Running is a great form of exercise for

. Not only can it help them shed excess weight (which, in turn, decreases the risk of complications), but it can also help improve the body's insulin sensitivity.

Is lifting weights good for diabetes?


Studies show that it's as good as aerobic exercise at boosting how well your body uses insulin

. (Also doing aerobic exercise may be even better.) The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with type 2 diabetes start a strength training program to help with blood sugar control.

Can bodybuilding prevent diabetes?


Moderate strength training and an increase in overall muscle mass were shown to reduce a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 32 percent

, explained the study published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Why do diabetics have skinny legs?

Diabetic amyotrophy is

thought to be caused by an abnormality of the immune system, which damages the tiny blood vessels which supply the nerves to the legs

. This process is called microvasculitis. The likelihood of getting it does not seem to be related to how long you have diabetes, or how severely you are affected.

Which type of diabetes is worse?

The body isn't able to use insulin the right way. This is called insulin resistance. As

type 2

diabetes gets worse, the pancreas may make less and less insulin.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.