Type 2 – Seattle- Diabetes and Athletes

Type 2 diabetes and being an athlete does work and does not deter from the ability of the athletes. Many world-famous athletes have had great careers with type 2 diabetes. For example, John Anderson who is an endurance cyclist competing in the Race Across America for the last five years, NFL quarterback Wade Wilson, tennis player Billie Jean King, hockey player Bobby Clarke, and heavyweight boxer Joe Frazier.

Because exercise and hard core athletics lowers blood sugar dramatically, constant testing needs to occur at least once an hour while exercising to determine if the athlete needs another 15 grams of carbohydrates. The athlete doesn’t need it while running around on the field but if blood sugars are too low a break to eat a granola bar is required.

If blood sugars are high, the athlete can exercise for a lot longer but headaches occur and when exercising on a very high blood sugar, there is no energy and the athlete becomes lethargic. It’s best to keep blood sugar in the range between 100-140 to keep the blood sugar going; not too high and definitely not too low. In athletes, high blood sugar is less dangerous than low because in a high blood sugar, exercising can stop and probably will due to fatigue. A low can throw the athlete into a coma. For an athlete the danger is more on the low end.

Athletes test more frequently and eat more frequently than non-athlete diabetics. They don’t play a three hour game and eat oranges afterwards. Athletes play an hour, come out and test sugar, eat the appropriate amount, drink water and get back into the game. This same routine applies to practices as well. When the athlete is off the field, a return to a normal routine occurs.

Athletes have to eat before athletics, sometimes during and after athletics which consists of protein and carbohydrate before, pure carbohydrate in the middle and protein, carbohydrate and fat at the end. This is the pattern generally followed but will vary by individual. Being an athlete with type 2 diabetes requires a lot of work because of the regiment they have to follow but it’s not impossible as many athletes have proven.

Stay informed about what is happening at Ramey Nutrition by signing up for my free newsletter.