Oliver, a Year 11 student at Marryatville High School was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just over one year ago. Since his diagnosis, he has been busy completing a research assignment for one of his major subjects. Oliver has written a magazine article-style report for people with T1D who would like to play sport at a high level, and he draws on his own personal perspective as an aspiring elite basketball player.
Oliver has made a special request for JDRF to share his article in the hope that it inspires others who might be in the same position. Read an excerpt of the article below:
When your life gets turned upside down overnight, the things that were once important to you seem to hit the spotlight with even greater intensity. For me, this event took place on 9 May 2015 when I was diagnosed with T1D. This disease that I had heard of but knew little about had taken over my body. I suddenly found myself in intensive care, hooked up to drips and monitors and gravely ill. Yet through the barrage of overwhelming issues I now faced, there was one thought that flashed bright in my mind: “How is this going to affect my ability to play basketball?”
I had been working at my chosen sport of basketball for nine years. I was improving each year and enjoying developing my skills, my stamina and my confidence.
This major health setback had rocked my world and would now test my determination like nothing before.
I saw it as an opportunity to conduct my own research, to better understand my condition, how it might affect my sporting performance and how I should manage my health to achieve my best. Turning negatives into positives is what makes us stronger and more resilient. I thought that this project might help me to understand what my limitations are and how I could overcome them. It also provided me with a reason to speak with other athletes who have T1D, sporting coaches, doctors, specialists and endocrinologists, all providing valuable insights both for myself and hopefully, other young sports people who might have T1D.
It was useful for me to find out how other athletes with diabetes coped. I was lucky enough to interview high achieving diabetic athletes including James Glasspool, elite cyclist representing Australia at the World Championships; Nathan Basset, AFL Footballer and Coach of Port Power; Scott Bricknell, SANFL Footballer for West Adelaide Football Club, all of whom provided reassurance that even at the highest levels it is possible to monitor and manage this condition.
In every sport mental strength is also an important factor. Dealing with T1D adds another layer to the mental toughness needed for elite performance. Not only are diabetics required to be physically fit and focused on the game, they need to have an added awareness of their body and how it will react.
Although I have yet to experience sport at an elite level, I have already determined that many factors contribute to the right frame of mind. Every athlete is different and dealing with T1D is all about having positive influences and support networks in your life. Preparing for and managing your exercise regime is critical. Understanding your body and responding to the physical indications ensures your performance is at its peak. It takes an additional layer of determination to bring all aspects together on the day, but it is possible with the right approach and the right mindset.
My research has shown that my performance as an elite basketball player would not be adversely affected due to T1D. Although my routine has changed since I contracted the condition, I believe, if anything, my performance has improved because I have a more focused approach. I not only feel stronger and faster but also more aware of my body because of having diabetes. Through all of the interviews and research there seems to be a common perspective that if managed well, there are no negative effects because of T1D. Fellow athletes (and physicians) support this view and show that it is possible to be a professional in a sport and be able to cope with the added pressures of this condition. I believe that not only does T1D not adversely affect your performance in sport but can be a source of motivation, to improve how you look after your body and to be able to show on the big stage that you can compete with the best.
Read Oliver’s research project in full here.