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Published on 05/02/2008 at Fri May 02 07:36.
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Jay Cutler Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes

Posted Fri May 2nd by

[Jay Cutler]

Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, CBS4 Denver reports. According to the report, Cutler became suspicious that something was wrong near the end of the season, when he began to lose weight and arm strength. He was diagnosed with diabetes two weeks ago.

Cutler will address the media Friday.

Type 1 diabetes is the genetic form of the disease, which either prevents the pancreas from producing insulin or prevents the body from using it properly. The disease is incurable, but treatable via daily insulin injections. The ailment is not expected to affect Cutler’s ability to play, and many professional athletes have continued their careers with the disease.

My kid brother was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 4 years old or so, and it wasn’t easy at the start. It’s a tough transition, and rare to see diagnosed in adults (Type 1 is often called “juvenile diabetes” because of the young age at which it is commonly diagnosed). Now that Cutler knows what was wrong, though, he can address it. He’ll have to keep a close watch on his diet – as if he wasn’t already, and an even closer watch on his blood sugar level at all times.

In the end it shouldn’t affect his game whatsoever.

  • Sabo

    This is crazy (quote from the RMN):

    “Cutler, who is wearing an insulin pump on his stomach, said he began to lose weight in October – he lost 8 to 10 pounds that month, he said – and by the end of the season was down to 202, or 32 pounds below the weight he started the season at.”

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

    I’ve read a lot of comments (on other sites) that have claimed Jay’s ‘dough-boy’ look led them to believe he might have not taken the best care of himself.

    It’s important that everyone undestand that Type 1 Diabetes is an auto-immune disease. Specifically, it is when the body’s immune system attacks & destroys certain cells (called Beta cells) in the pancreas. The most important fact in this is that nothing Cutler (or any one else that has this disease) could have done that would prevent this from developing. As Kyle mentioned — it’s genetic.

    This is NOT the same as Type 2 which has been linked to weight issues and has to do with the absorbtion of insulin.

    One of the positive things I’ve read on the subject is that exercise is very beneficial for Type 1’s because it slows the absorption of insulin into their bodies. It can lower the amount of insulin a Type 1 person needs by 10-20% — which is really impressive.

    If he is true to his character, Jay will tackle this problem just like everything else in his life and master all aspects of the treatment and lifestyle.

    Keep up the good work, Jay. We’re thinking and praying for you!

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

    For more info on this disease, I would recommend visiting the Juvenile Diabetes Reseach Foundation website.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    When I heard the initial reports on this last night the media made it sound like he had cancer or HIV. Something akin to this.

    http://images.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/7/74/EVILDIABEETUS.jpg

    I have a friend who just went through this 2 years back and other than injecting insulin before meals it hasn’t changed him in the least. I really don’t see this being an issue, but Jay could be a great role model and spokesperson for diabetes.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    Wow, the people on the ESPN boards are being real a-holes about this. Way to class it up people.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    It’s the Internet. Anyone can be an asshole behind closed doors.

    I’m doing a bit of research myself, and the only thing that worries me at all is a severe injury to Cutler’s leg. I’m still trying to find more information on this, but apparently if Cutler’s leg has been suffering from inconsistent blood glucose levels, and he were to receive a serious leg injury (even a deep thigh bruise), it can result in amputation.

    In fact, leg and foot amputations are required for diabetes-related complications more than anything else.

    That is really serious, but it sounds to me like Jay and the doctors would have to really let this thing go for something like 5 years to have that drastic of an effect. Jay should be fine.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    From what I’ve read it sounds like the biggest issue he’s going to have is monitoring blood sugar during a game because your adrenaline can affect it is so much.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    Also on the internet thing, yeah people can be jerks and you expect that on teh interwebs but all the boards I’ve seen have been like 40-50% of the commenters. Crap like “it’s just an excuse for his poor play” and basically making fun on the guy for having it. People live in a bubble.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

    I would imagine that Mike Shanahan has been updated on this situation and given all the information that Jay has been given. I think it is notable that dispite the fact that we don’t really have a real starting-level backup at QB, Shanahan wasn’t concerned enough to draft a QB last weekend (even in the later rounds).

    On the purely football side of things, I don’t believe I’ll get nervious unless Shanahan starts bringing in QB’s for workouts.

    P.S. I just hope we all don’t have to hear from LetPlummerPlay.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    That brings up something I’ve been wondering about Jonathan, why are we so comfortable with Ramsey at #2? After watching the Lions game last season it has to make you wonder. There were multiple times we could have upgraded with a cheap FA signing.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

    Well, honestly, I don’t have anything against Ramsey. I definitely like him as Jay’s backup because they both have similar gunslinger styles with strong arms and mobility. However, if Shanahan didn’t think Cutler was going to be the future HoF QB we need to win a Super Bowl, he surely would have started the process of finding a replacement. And although Ramsey works great as Jay’s backup, I don’t think Shanahan would have benched Jake Plummer in favor of Ramsey. :)

    Basically, I think Shanahan keeps a backup that matches his starting QB so that if he has to step in the rest of the offense doesn’t have to adjust. Think about Jake Plummer for example and BvP – they were both crazy scramblers but lacked the power arm of Cutler and Ramsey.

    Of course I have some pretty dumb theories some times! :)

  • http://birty.blogspot.com mikebirty

    someone on the internet is being an idiot?????? What next Wikipedia is slightly inaccurate on some entries?

    i played soccer with someone who had type 1 diabetes. it had almost no affect at all on their performance – only difference was at half time he’d take his blood sugar and then normally gulp down a mars bar or some jelly babies – anything that’s high in sugar.

    Plus its not like Jay’s coping with this on his own he’s going to have the best doctors money can buy monitoring everything about his performance, weight etc.

  • dan

    Thats why I dont read ESPN comments. They have to be the most ignorant un-educated classless people I have ever ran across. Its a shame when people will make fun of the way he looks, but yet these are same 5 fooot tall 400 pound bad apples. I hope he is ok, and everything for goes well. If says he can play without problems good for him. To me this is more important than football. But I am also learning about this affliciton more and more. God Speed JC

  • http://www.dlife.com Supporter in CT

    So great to see someone that is showing it is A-OK to come forward about his diabetes and embrace the challenge openenly that will so help other!

  • Marina

    My 6 year old son was also diagnosed with type 1 one month prior to mr. cutler’s diagnosis. It has been extraordinary to see Mr. Cutler play football and though my son has bad days, watching another person with type 1 play football lifts his spirits just a little bit more and make me happy knowing that there is hope.