by Gb Bongiovanni

Created on: September 11, 2008

Quite a bit is going to be said this year about Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler. In April 2008, Cutler was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and it has changed his life forever. Like many others this disease has affected the way that he lives his life and may change daily routines and push the young quarterback to a different challenge. As a father of a diabetic who was diagnosed at the age of five, Jay Cutler is an inspiration not only to me, but should be to everyone.

The story has been told over and over and was talked about again on Monday night football where Jay Cutler completed 16/24 passes for 299 yards, and two touchdowns. Late last season Cutler did not feel like himself. He lost over thirty pounds and felt lethargic and did not know what was wrong with him. Cutler went through a period of time where his pancreas was turning off on him, what most people call the honeymoon period. It's where your pancreas shuts down and will stop creating insulin for your body, which causes your blood sugar or glucose levels to rise. By having a high blood glucose one can feel sick and if high enough could eventually turn deadly. By administering insulin a diabetic is able to somewhat control their blood glucose level through careful monitoring and eating regimens. There are two types of diabetes and type one is less common than type two. Type two is usually brought on by being overweight and eating poorly. Type one, also called Juvenile Diabetes, is a genetic disease that a cause at the current time cannot be explained.
Approximately over three million Americans suffer from diabetes and Jay Cutler is no different than any other person with the disease. He carries a blood glucose monitor; he tests himself numerous times throughout the day, and administers insulin to control his levels. While I am unfamiliar with how Jay Cutler does these procedures he like every other type one diabetic struggle with the constant up and downs of their blood sugar levels. My daughter who is now nine has been struggling with the same disease for four years now; she just isn't a pro athlete.
While I applaud Jay Cutler and believe that his status as a professional football player will help the disease it's sometimes tough to watch. Unfortunately Jay Cutler is going to gain more attention than anyone else with the disease. For instance we haven't heard too much about Adam Morrison anymore since he left Gonzaga, now a pro NBA Basketball player for the Charlotte Bobcats who has struggled

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