Mark Andrews is a tight end who plays for the NFL team, the Baltimore Ravens. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners football team. Andrews was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft as the 86th overall pick.
While he has been playing at the highest level for such a long time, not a lot of people might know that he has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The tight end has had type 1 diabetes since he was nine years old. Another interesting fact is that Mark Andrews pricks his fingers nearly 30 times during matchday to measure his blood sugar level.
Recently, a video was shared by NFL reporter Dov Kleiman on X about how Andrews uses a glucose monitor to measure his blood sugar every time he comes off the field. Fans were stunned to know about this and praised his grit and determination. Many said he was an inspiration to others with diabetes to continue to pursue their dreams.
Mark Andrews maintains a rigid diet to keep control of his blood sugar level
Mark Andrews has talked about the diet he follows to keep his condition under control. He weighs approximately 247 lbs and needs a balanced diet to maintain his nutrition levels and keep his blood sugar level under control. Athletes consume a lot of energy drinks during games to boost their energy levels.
However, the Baltimore Ravens man only takes Gatorade Zero, which has zero sugar and carbs, which will keep a steady blood sugar level. In addition to this, he keeps munching on fruit snack packs in case he gets hungry. In extreme conditions, he has to connect to his insulin pump.
People don’t realize what #Ravens All-Pro TE Mark Andrews goes through during games. Andrews has Type-1 diabetes and has to check his blood sugar whenever he gets off the field.
While off the field, he wears a continuous glucose monitor. Watch this video:
“Every time I come… pic.twitter.com/y2UzkFRLz3
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 8, 2023
Mark Andrews has always kept a positive attitude towards life. He had accepted his fate a long time ago and decided not to let his condition get the better of him. He acknowledges that type 1 diabetes is extremely difficult, but it won’t stop him from achieving his dreams.
“I adapted a mindset that this disease is a part of who I am, but it’s not going to define me and it’s never going to stop me in achieving my dreams. Type 1 diabetes is incredibly difficult, but I refuse to let it affect my job or my life in any way,” he said.
And Mark Andrews isn’t the first player to play with type 1 diabetes in the NFL. Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler played 12 seasons with the same condition. Andrews has said previously that he used to watch Cutler while growing up, and the latter was a source of great inspiration to him.