How NFL quarterback Jay Cutler copes with type 1 diabetes

Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during his third season in the National Football League at the age of 25. 

Cutler’s pancreas was no longer able to produce insulin, which impacted his blood glucose levels.

He lost more than 30 pounds and experienced extreme fatigue before doctors realized he had the disease.

The now-34-year-old has been able to manage his symptoms over the past nine years with the help of a former coach who also has type 1 diabetes and his wife, celebrity Kristin Cavallari.

Dr Desmond Schatz, medical director for the Diabetes Institute at University of Florida College of Medicine, told Daily Mail Online that professional athletes can manage their disease if they are committed to understanding it. 

Jay Cutler was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2008 when he was the quarterback for the Denver Broncos. The quarterback now plays for the Miami Dolphins in Florida. This was him during a game last Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons

Cutler cut most carbohydrates and sweets from his diet to manage his blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes means his pancreas is unable to produce insulin for his body. Cutler and his wife, Kristin Cavallari, attended an event in West Hollywood in April 

Cutler cut most carbohydrates and sweets from his diet to manage his blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes means his pancreas is unable to produce insulin for his body. Cutler and his wife, Kristin Cavallari, attended an event in West Hollywood in April 

The professional football player was the quarterback for the Denver Broncos when he was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. 

At 25 years old, Cutler experienced significant weight loss, fatigue and a weakening in his arm muscles.  

He lost more than 30 pounds before doctors realized his pancreas was no longer producing insulin for his body.

Insulin is a hormone that allows the body to use sugars from food for energy.

The daily challenges someone with type 1 diabetes faces

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body attacks healthy, insulin-producing cells. 

Someone diagnosed with the disease has to check their blood sugar (glucose) levels a minimum of four times per day and administer insulin injections. 

An insulin pump is another option to help monitor glucose levels and deliver insulin straight into the bloodstream. 

Blood sugar levels need to remain higher than 90 and lower than 250, on average. 

Jay Cutler’s blood sugar level was 550 the day he was diagnosed with diabetes. 

Throughout the day, people like Cutler have to time what they eat and drink while monitoring their insulin levels. 

Carbohydrates are counted at each meal because they contain sugars that can lead to a spike or depletion of insulin levels.

This helps the person mathematically calculate the amount of insulin they need to pump into their body.

Source: American Diabetes Association 

Cutler was the star quarterback for the team, so he had to figure out the best way to stay active and manage his diagnosis.  

‘I was relieved when we figured out what it was and that it was treatable,’ he said to Men’s Health. ‘Now I can play at 100 percent of my ability.’

Cutler had a football coach at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, who also had type 1 diabetes. 

Watching his coach managing his insulin levels helped Cutler figure out what was needed to keep his own symptoms under control.

Dr Schatz explained that an athletes commitment to understanding their type 1 diabetes is how they can remain successful in their profession.

‘They need to understand what range they need to keep their blood glucose levels in to have optimal performance,’ Dr Schatz said. 

He said how an athlete manages their diagnosis is dependent on the type of sport they do. 

An athlete who does mainly endurance exercises needs different levels of insulin as opposed to someone who does strengthening work. 

‘For strength training you need more protein in your diet,’ Schatz said.

And for more endurance work then the person needs to be able to consume more carbohydrates to keep their blood glucose levels up. 

‘Carbohydrates are important for energy production,’ Dr Schatz said.  

Cutler’s health depends on a small insulin pump that he only takes off when playing a football game.

An insulin pump is a small, computerized device that is attached to a catheter under the skin. 

The device injects insulin directly into the bloodstream to level out glucose levels in the body.  

Cutler had a football coach at Vanderbilt University who also had type 1 diabetes. The quarterback said the coach was a good resource for him when he was first diagnosed.This is him during his most recent football game on Sunday

The quarterback wears an insulin pump to monitor and control his levels, but he takes it off during games. He learned to manage the disease while with the Chicago Bears. This is him during a game in August of 2016

Cutler had a football coach at Vanderbilt University who also had the disease. The quarterback said the coach was a good resource for him when he was first diagnosed. Picture left is Cutler now with the Miami Dolphins last Sunday, right was him the the Chicago Bears in 2016

The football star has to be mindful about what he eats every day. His blood sugar levels need to remain between 60 and 200 in order for them to be normal. Him and his wife Kristin attended an event in Chicago in September 2014

The football star has to be mindful about what he eats every day. His blood sugar levels need to remain between 60 and 200 in order for them to be normal. Him and his wife Kristin attended an event in Chicago in September 2014

It has grown more popular with people who have type 1 diabetes because they can get insulin 24 hours a day.

‘It provides flexibility in terms of varying the amount of insulin you use before and after a workout,’ Dr Schatz said.   

When someone is eating, they use the buttons on the pump to deliver extra doses of insulin into the body.

Cutler calculates the carbohydrates he eats at every meal and adjusts his pump accordingly to deliver the right amount of insulin into his body.  

His diet also consists of more fruits and proteins than carbohydrates to prevent his blood levels from fluctuating drastically.   

Dr Schatz said having a companion who understands the disease, such as Cutler’s wife Kristin Cavallari, is essential to managing the symptoms.

‘One of the problems with heavy exercise is you can have low blood sugar in the middle of the night,’ Dr Schatz said. 

That is why he recommends for people to have a companion who notices the signs so they can help that person get the insulin they need.

There are not many professional athletes who battle disease such as type 1 diabetes, but Dr Schatz said it is possible to remain in the profession. 

And Cutler is one athlete who has proven that people can manage the disease.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk