Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, who turned 25 this week, recently learned he'll have to live the rest of his life with Type 1 diabetes. The condition is treatable and he will be able to resume his NFL career. Yet, Cutler will have to rely on insulin and take about four shots a day.
Cutler's condition, which he said in an interview Thursday night with a Denver television station started last season, was diagnosed through routine blood work when he returned to Denver's offseason workout program this spring.
The following, according to Mayoclinic.com, are symptoms of Type 1 diabetes:
- Increased thirst and frequent urination. As excess sugar builds up in your bloodstream, fluid is pulled from your tissues. This may leave you thirsty. As a result, you may drink - and urinate - more than usual.
- Extreme hunger. Without enough insulin to move sugar into your cells, your muscles and organs become depleted of energy. This triggers intense hunger that may persist even after you eat. Without insulin, the sugar in your food never reaches your energy-starved tissues.
- Weight loss. Despite eating more than usual to relieve hunger, you may lose weight - sometimes rapidly. Without the energy sugar supplies, your muscle tissues and fat stores may simply shrink.
- Fatigue. If your cells are deprived of sugar, you may become tired and irritable.
- Blurred vision. If your blood sugar level is too high, fluid may be pulled from your tissues - including the lenses of your eyes. This may affect your ability to focus clearly.
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