<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Adam Morrison isn?t about to become the pioneer that some might believe. Chris Dudley played 13 NBA seasons as a Type 1 diabetic. NHL Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke was a ferocious competitor despite having the same insidious disease. So the Gonzaga junior, another fiery athlete with as good a shot as anyone of becoming the No. 1 pick now that he?s declared himself for the June 28 NBA draft, has little to fear beyond his own ability to continue managing his blood-sugar level. As Morrison?s father John said during a recent Sports Illustrated interview, the 6-foot-8 NCAA Division 1 scoring champ can actually count on better care and resources - such as nutritional support - in the NBA. But as he has also discovered, a little information can be dangerous. Both Morrison and his father talked about the long-term perils of diabetes - such as circulation and heart complications - during recent interviews. During one sit-down - in what agent Mark Bartlestein insists was merely an off-hand attempt at humor - the wise-cracking Morrison feigned concern over losing his fingers and toes, and that as a result he must enter the draft ASAP. By the time news of that interview reached one league executive last week, doubt had settled in. ?Why would he even say something like that,? the executive said, unaware that Morrison was apparently speaking in jest. ?If you?re thinking about taking him, what are you supposed to think?? Can you say damage control? ?The whole thing was taken out of context,? Bartlestein said. ?I?ve talked to his doctor - a guy he?s had since he was a kid - and he said there was absolutely no problem. ?Unfortunately, people ran with it, and now we have this. But I will make sure that everyone in the league knows what is up with that.? By all accounts, Morrison?s dietary discipline has been resolute, which is truly the only way a diabetic can compete at a high athletic level. </div> Source
Diabetes will not stop this guy, he said it's contralable, and he didn't have any problems in the NCAA, so he won't have any in the NBA>
I don't know about wanting to be the next Chris Dudley...He didn't play for 13 seasons as much as sit for 13. Type ONE diabetes is a nasty and pernicious disease. For the most part, it is high blood sugars that cause "fingers to drop off". Fortunately, exercise lowers blood sugars. He'll have to check his sugar very often and always have fast acting blood sugar pills and insulin at hand to keep him at normal levels. It is life threatening to a type ONE to get a very low blood sugar, so he'll have to be careful. But diabetics have to be careful and disciplined as regular people or they get sick and can die just as easily as an athlete. Bottom line, there are many juvenile onset diabetics in sports that do very well and can keep their diabetes at bay as just a major annoyance rather than a serious health issue. Many golfers, and a few NFL players are evidence of this. There is a cure around the corner if it can be made to work....Not FDA approved or anything, just interesting science at this point. http://www.microislet.com/technology/index.htm Here are a coupla more informational links about options for athletes with diabetes http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/conte...ract/15/11/1811 http://www.diabetes-exercise.org/about.asp
