By Ray Kreienkamp, MD, PhD; Naresh Rao, DO, FAOASM
Water polo is tough. So is living with type 1 diabetes. But numerous athletes have proven you can excel at water polo with such a condition.
Type 1 diabetes develops when the body cannot secrete enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels in the normal range. This occurs because the body destroys its own beta-cells--the cells that secrete insulin. High blood-sugar levels and lack of insulin can cause increased urination, extreme thirst, fatigue, and weight loss. If not treated, type 1 diabetes is deadly. While this condition can develop at any age, most are diagnosed with it as youths.
Managing diabetes takes a lot of attention. Athletes with this condition must monitor their blood-sugar levels, either by pricking their fingers or with a continuous glucose monitor, a sensor that is attached to the skin. Since their bodies don't make sufficient insulin, they must give themselves insulin shots, often more than five times per day. What's more, the amount of insulin needed changes based on food intake, exercise, and blood-sugar levels. As a result, close attention is needed, as both high- and low-glucose values can be dangerous.
Numerous athletes have excelled with type 1 diabetes, including Mark Andrews (NFL), Lauren Cox (WNBA), Max Domi (NHL), and Adam Duvall (MLB). But numerous water polo players also have excelled with this condition as well, including Grayden Reynolds and Ella Mattocks.
Reynolds is a junior center at USC. Previous to his time with the Trojans, he played for Bakersfield Water Polo and was a CIF Division II MVP and won a CIF Valley Championship. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as he entered the5
th grade. At first, he wondered if he would be able to keep playing sports. He quickly learned that he could, and he was back at water polo practice two weeks later. Today, at USC, he excels thanks to his attention to his type 1 diabetes. He wears a continuous glucose monitor on his arm, which helps keep track of glucose levels. He says his coaches and teammates have always been supportive. He doesn't see diabetes as a disadvantage and uses it "to make [him] stronger."
Ella Mattocks is a senior center for Connecticut Premier. She's committed to play water polo at Pomona-Pitzer next fall. She was diagnosed with diabetes after JOs at age 15, when a blood test showed her blood sugar level was 400 mg/dL, way above a normal blood-sugar level, which should be around 100 mg/dL. She states, "I remember getting into the pool for the first time after being diagnosed. At first, it was a big adjustment. But as time has gone on, I know exactly how to handle it. Now it's just part of daily life." She also explains how her "coaches have been amazing" at helping her succeed. She encourages other water polo athletes with type 1 diabetes to "feel proud of yourself that you can manage it."
From the California to Connecticut, Grayden and Ella are two awesome examples of athletes across the country excelling in the pool with type 1 diabetes. With proper attention, diabetes should not get in the way of playing our great sport.
This article appeared in the Winter 2021 issue of SkipShot magazine
