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 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 (2011–2020) and Minnesota Vikings (2021–); cornerback, type 2
- Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens, tight end, type 1[7]
- Noah Gray, Kansas City Chiefs, tight end, type 1[8]
Australian football[]
- Nathan Bassett, Adelaide, type 1.[9]
- Jamie Cripps, St Kilda and West Coast, type 1.[10]
- Jack Fitzpatrick, Melbourne, Hawthorn type 1.[11]
- Brandon Jack, Sydney, type 1.[12]
- Paddy McCartin, St Kilda, type 1.[13]
- Sam Reid, Western Bulldogs and Greater Western Sydney, type 1.[9]
- Dale Weightman, Richmond, type 1.[9]
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.[14]
- 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.[15]
- Brandon Morrow, Seattle Mariners (2007–2009) and Toronto Blue Jays (2010–2014) pitcher, type 1.[15]
- 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[16]
- Adam Duvall, Cincinnati Reds (2015–), type 1
- Garrett Mitchell, Milwaukee Brewers (2020-), 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)[17]
- Dave Hollins, multiple teams (1990–2002), 1993 all-star, type 1[18]
Basketball[]
- Lauren Cox, WNBA power forward (2020–present), type 1.[19]
- Chris Dudley, National Basketball Association center (1988–2001), politician, type 1.[20]
- Gary Forbes, National Basketball Association small forward (2010–present), type 1.[21]
- Adam Morrison, National Basketball Association small forward (2006–2010), type 1.[22]
- Alper Saruhan, Turkish Basketball Super League small forward (2007–present), type 1.[23]
Cricket[]
- Wasim Akram, Pakistani bowler (104 Tests, 356 ODIs, 1984–2003), type 1.[24]
- Craig Cumming, New Zealand batsman (11 Tests, 2005–2008), type 1.[25]
- John McLaren, Australian batsman (1 Test, 1912), died of diabetes aged 34.
- Craig McMillan, New Zealand batsman (55 Tests, 1997–2005), type 1.[26]
- Dirk Wellham, Australian batsman (6 Tests, 1981–1987), type 1.[27]
- Sophie Devine, New Zealand All-rounder (111 ODIs, active), type 1.
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.[28]
Team Novo Nordisk is the first professional cycling team to be comprised completely of riders living with type 1 diabetes.[29] All riders, including Javier Mejías (Spain),[30] 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.[31][32]
Football[]
- , Charlton (2021–) director, type 1[33]
- Scott Allan, Celtic midfielder, type 1
- Nanna Christiansen, Denmark women's national football team (2009– ) midfielder, Type 1.[34]
- Ben Coker, Southend (2013– ) defender, type 1.[35]
- Antonia Göransson, Sweden women's national football team (2010– ) midfielder, type 1.[36]
- Alan Kernaghan, Republic of Ireland national football team (1992–1996) defender, type 1.[37]
- Gary Mabbutt, Tottenham (1982–1998) and Bristol Rovers (1979–1982) defender, UEFA Cup and FA Cup winner, type 1.[38]
- Borja Mayoral, A.S. Roma (2015–), striker, type 1.[39]
- Danny McGrain, Scotland (62 caps, 1973–1982) and Celtic (1967–1987) defender, seven-time Scottish Premier League winner.[40]
- 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.[41]
- Nacho, Spain (2013–) and Real Madrid (2009) defender.[42]
- 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).[43]
- Sergi Samper, Vissel Kobe (2019–) and Barcelona La Masia graduate, midfielder, type 1.[44]
- Craig Stanley, Lincoln City (2015–2017), midfielder, type 1.[41]
- Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Norwegian professional footballer, playing for Molde Fotballklubb as their club captain, type 1
- Pär Zetterberg, Sweden national football team, midfielder, type 1.
- Benjamin Hudson [1], Lancaster City F.C. (2012–Present), Defender, type 1.
- Philipp Gehde (2020-present), midfielder, type 1.
- Andy Rose, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2019-present), midfielder, Type 1.[45]
Figure Skating[]
- Tyler ter Meulen von Hohenstaufen, Men's singles, Type 1
Gaelic Football[]
- Kevin Nolan, Dublin GAA (2008–2015), half back, Type 1.[46]
Golf[]
- Scott Verplank, five-time PGA Tour winner, type 1.[47]
Gymnastics[]
- Charlotte Drury, American trampoline gymnast, 2020 Olympic alternate, type 1.[48]
Ice hockey / Field Hockey[]
- Nick Boynton, former National Hockey League defenseman, type 1.[49]
- Bobby Clarke OC, Philadelphia Flyers (1969–84) and Canada center, sports administrator, type 1.[50]
- Cory Conacher, National Hockey League center (2011–present), type 1.[51]
- B. J. Crombeen, National Hockey League winger (2007–2015), type 1.[52]
- Max Domi, National Hockey League winger (2015–present), type 1.[53]
- Anissa Gamble, Canadian Women's Hockey League, Toronto Furies (2018–19), winger, (2003–present), type 1.[54]
- Toby Petersen, former National Hockey League center (2000–2014), type 1.[55]
- Luke Kunin, National Hockey League center (2017–present), type 1.[56]
- Kaapo Kakko, New York rangers, type 1.[57]
- , (1975-1990), type 1.
Mixed Martial Arts[]
Motor racing[]
- Conor Daly, IndyCar driver, type 1.[59]
- Jamie Dick, NASCAR driver, type 2.[60]
- Charlie Kimball, IndyCar driver, type 1.[61]
- Ryan Reed, NASCAR driver, type 1.[62]
- Miguel Paludo, Brazil. NASCAR driver, type 1.[63]
- Jack Perkins, Supercars driver Australia, type 1.[64]
Rowing[]
- Michal Jelinski, Poland, Olympic gold medal winner 2008, four-time World Champion (2005–2009) quadruple sculls, type 1[citation needed]
- 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.[65]
- Brett Stewart, Manly (2003–), New South Wales and Australia fullback, type 1.[66]
- 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.[67]
- Henry Slade, Exeter Chiefs, type 1
- Chris Pennell, Worcester Warriors and England, Type 1
Softball[]
- Sara Groenewegen, Canadian Pitcher, type 1
Squash[]
- , Canadian Singles and Doubles, Psa, Sda, type 1.
Swimming and Running[]
- Gary Hall, Jr., American freestyler, five-time Olympic gold medallist (1996, 2000, 2004), type 1.
Taekwondo[]
- Anamarija Runtić, European Champion in Latvia (2015), Croatian national champion 2x from Split, Croatia, type 1
Tennis[]
- Arthur Ashe, American winner of 3 Grand Slam Titles (1968 US Open, 1970 Australian Open, 1975 Wimbledon), type 2.[68]
- 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.[69]
Winter sports[]
- Kris Freeman, American cross-country skier, type 1.[70]
Wrestling[]
- Jorge González (wrestler), Argentinian basketball player and professional wrestler, deceased (2010 at age 44 from complications of diabetes and gigantism).[71]
- Kyle O'Reilly, American professional wrestler, type 1.[72]
References[]
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