List of sportspeople with diabetes

Improvements in the management of diabetes mellitus in the twentieth century have made it possible for athletes with diabetes 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.

American football

• 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, Baltimore Ravens, tight end, type 1[7]

Australian football

• 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

• 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), and Oakland Athletics (2014–) outfielder, later General Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, type 1.[13]
• Mark Lowe, Seattle Mariners (2006–2010, 2015), Texas Rangers (2010–2012), Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2013), Cleveland Indians (2014), Toronto Blue Jays (2015), and Detroit Tigers (2016–) pitcher, type 1.[14]
• Brandon Morrow, Seattle Mariners (2007–2009) and Toronto Blue Jays (2010–2014) pitcher, type 1.[14]
• Dustin McGowan, Toronto Blue Jays (2005–2008, 2011, 2013–2014), Philadelphia Phillies (2015), and Miami Marlins (2016–) pitcher, type 1.
• Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn Dodgers (1947–1956), type 2, deceased (1972 at age 53).
• Bill Gullickson, Montreal Expos (1979–1994), type 1[15]
• Adam Duvall, Cincinnati Reds (2015–), type 1
• James "Catfish" Hunter, Kansas City/Oakland Athletics (1965-1974) and New York Yankees (1975-1979) pitcher, type 1, deceased (1999 at age 53 of ALS)[16]

Basketball

• Lauren Cox, 2020 NCAA Division I first-team All-American forward–center and third overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft, type 1.[17]
• Chris Dudley, National Basketball Association center (1988–2001), politician, type 1.[18]
• Gary Forbes, National Basketball Association small forward (2010–present), type 1.[19]
• Adam Morrison, National Basketball Association small forward (2006–2010), type 1.
• Alper Saruhan, Turkish Basketball Super League small forward (2007–present), type 1.

Cricket

• Wasim Akram, Pakistani bowler (104 Tests, 356 ODIs, 1984-2003), type 1.[20]
• Craig Cumming, New Zealand batsman (11 Tests, 2005–2008), type 1.[21]
• John McLaren, Australian batsman (1 Test, 1912), died of diabetes aged 34.
• Craig McMillan, New Zealand batsman (55 Tests, 1997–2005), type 1.[22]
• Dirk Wellham, Australian batsman (6 Tests, 1981–1987), type 1.[23]

Cycling

Team Novo Nordisk is a global all-diabetes sports team of cyclists, triathletes and runners, spearheaded by the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team. The team’s mission is to inspire, educate and empower people affected by diabetes.[24]

Team Novo Nordisk is the first professional cycling team to be comprised completely of riders living with type 1 diabetes.[25] All riders, including Javier Mejías (Spain),[26] Andrea Peron (Italy), Martijn Verschoor (Netherlands), and several of the team’s staff, including Phil Southerland and VP of Marketing Matt Vogel, are living with diabetes.[27][28]

Football/soccer

• Scott Allan, Celtic (2015–) midfielder, Type 1
• Nanna Christiansen, Denmark women's national football team (2009– ) midfielder, Type 1.[29]
• Ben Coker, Southend (2013– ) defender, Type 1.[30]
• Antonia Göransson, Sweden women's national football team (2010– ) midfielder, Type 1.[31]
• Alan Kernaghan, Republic of Ireland national football team (1992–1996) defender, Type 1.[32]
• Gary Mabbutt, Tottenham (1982–1998) and Bristol Rovers (1979–1982) defender, UEFA Cup and FA Cup winner, type 1.[33]
• Borja Mayoral, Real Madrid (2015–), striker, Type 1.[34]
• Danny McGrain, Scotland (62 caps, 1973–1982) and Celtic (1967–1987) defender, seven-time Scottish Premier League winner.[35]
• Jordan Morris, United States (24 caps, 2014–) and Seattle Sounders FC (2012–2013, 2016–) and Stanford University (2013–2015) Forward, Type 1.
• Jack Muldoon, Lincoln City (2015–2017), forward, Type 1.[36]
• Nacho, Spain (2013–) and Real Madrid (2009–) defender.[37]
• Andy Penman, Scotland (1 cap, 1966) and Rangers (1967–1973), Dundee F.C. (1959–1967) and Arbroath F.C. (1973–1978) midfielder, Scottish Football League winner 1961. Type 1, deceased (1994 at aged 51).[38]
• Sergi Samper, Vissel Kobe (2019-) and Barcelona La Masia graduate, midfielder, Type 1.[39]
• Craig Stanley, Lincoln City (2015–2017), midfielder, Type 1.[36]
• Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Norwegian professional footballer, currently playing for Molde Fotballklubb as their current club captain, Type 1
• Pär Zetterberg Sweden national football team, midfielder, Type 1.
• Benjamin Hudson , Lancaster City F.C. (2012–Present), Defender, Type 1.

Figure Skating

• Tyler ter Meulen von Hohenstaufen, Men's singles, Type 1

Gaelic Football

• Kevin Nolan, Dublin GAA (2008–2015), half back, Type 1.[40]

Golf

• Scott Verplank, five-time PGA Tour winner, type 1.[41]

Ice hockey / Field Hockey

• Nick Boynton, former National Hockey League defenseman, type 1.[42]
• Bobby Clarke OC, Philadelphia Flyers (1969–84) and Canada center, sports administrator, type 1.[43]
• Cory Conacher, National Hockey League center (2011–present), type 1.[44]
• B. J. Crombeen, National Hockey League winger (2007–2015), type 1.[45]
• Max Domi, National Hockey League winger (2015–present), type 1.[46]
• Anissa Gamble, Canadian Women's Hockey League, Toronto Furies (2018–19), winger, (2003–present), type 1.[47]
• Toby Petersen, former National Hockey League center (2000–2014), type 1.[48]
• Luke Kunin, National Hockey League center (2017–present), type 1.[49]
• Kaapo Kakko, top prospect for the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, type 1.[50]
• Andy Western, Field Hockey forward - Wales and Great Britain (1975-1990), type 1.

Mixed Martial Arts

• Jordan Williams, UFC Fighter, type 1.[51]

Motor racing

• Conor Daly, IndyCar driver, type 1.[52]
• Jamie Dick, NASCAR driver, type 2.[53]
• Charlie Kimball, IndyCar driver, type 1.[54]
• Ryan Reed, NASCAR driver, type 1.[55]
• Miguel Paludo, Brazil. NASCAR driver, type 1.[56]
• Jack Perkins, Supercars driver Australia, type 1.[57]

Rowing

• Michal Jelinski, Poland, Olympic gold medal winner 2008, four-time World Champion (2005–2009) quadruple sculls, type 1
• Chris Jarvis, Canada, Olympic rower 2004, 2008, pan-am games champion (2007) Men's pair, type 1
• Sir Steve Redgrave, UK, 5 Olympic gold medals, 9 World championship golds, 3 Commonwealth golds type 2

Rugby league

• Steve Renouf, Brisbane (1988–1999), Queensland and Australia centre, type 1.[58]
• Brett Stewart, Manly (2003–), New South Wales and Australia fullback, type 1.[59]
• Lance Thompson, St George Dragons (1995–2005), Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (2006–2008)

Rugby union

• Rod Kafer, Australian Test player (12 caps, 1999–2000), type 1.[60]
• Henry Slade, Exeter Chiefs, type 1
• Chris Pennell, Worcester Warriors and England, Type 1

Softball

• Sara Groenewegen, Canadian Pitcher, type 1

Swimming and Running

• Gary Hall, Jr., American freestyler, five-time Olympic gold medallist (1996, 2000, 2004), type 1.

Taekwondo

• Kristina Tomić, European Champion in women's flyweight (2018) from Croatia, type 1

Tennis

• Arthur Ashe, American winner of 3 Grand Slam Titles (1968 US Open, 1970 Australian Open, 1975 Wimbledon), type 2.[61]
• Billie Jean King, United States of America, winner of 20 Wimbledon titles, 3 U.S. Open titles, one Australian Open title, four French Open titles, and 695 career singles victories, type 2.[62]

Winter sports

• Kris Freeman, American cross-country skier, type 1.[63]

Wrestling

• Jorge González (wrestler), Argentinian basketball player and professional wrestler, deceased (2010 at age 44 from complications of diabetes and gigantism).[64]
• Kyle O'Reilly, American professional wrestler, type 1.[65]

References

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64. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jorge-giant-gonzalez-dead_n_740117
65. https://www.wwe.com/article/kyle-oreilly-shares-his-story-to-raise-diabetes-awareness

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