SUMMARY
- Diabetes is a debilitating disease which can affect anybody.
- A lot of athletes can also develop the disease.
Tennis is a very grueling sport and takes a toll on the physical health and well-being of the player. If the player is diabetic, it becomes an additional challenge for them. However, it is possible to suffer from diabetes and still be a professional.
The trick to balancing the rigors of the sport with living with diabetes is blood glucose management. It is possible to achieve it, and several athletes have proven it. In this article, we will take a closer look at the players who did not let diabetes get in the way of greatness.
Alexander Zverev
The German star is one of the more prolific players on the tour at present. Zverev has collected a lot of silverware over the years, and he is hungry to win Grand Slams.
Alexander suffers from Type-1 diabetes, which means that his body cannot naturally produce insulin. The German player is often seen injecting insulin into his body during his matches. He has lived with diabetes all his life and juggles his condition with his profession.
The star founded the Alexander Zverev Foundation recently, which aims to support children with diabetes. Moreover, the foundation also aims to provide medicines to those who cannot afford them in developing countries.
Billie Jean King
King is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. She singlehandedly changed the trajectory of women’s tennis when she won the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ against Bobby Riggs. With this victory, she ensured that women also got the same prize money as men.
Billie was a prolific player and won several titles during her playing years. She amassed an unbelievable 20 Wimbledon titles, 3 US Open titles, 1 Australian Open title, and 4 French Open titles.
King, like Zverev, also suffers from diabetes, although hers is a different type. Whereas Alexander suffers from Type-1 diabetes, Billie suffers from Type-2 diabetes.
Moreover, Billie was diagnosed with the disease long after her professional career was over. She has since taken proactive measures to raise awareness about diabetes.
Arthur Ashe
Ashe is one of the best-known American tennis stars, with the iconic stadium at Flushing Meadows named after him. He won several titles in his career, including Wimbledon and the US Open, and one of his biggest victories was against Jimmy Connors.
Arthur was an African American, which put him at a greater risk of developing diabetes. Although he was quite athletic, it is believed he had Type-2 diabetes. Many are also of the opinion that Arthur may have had a hybrid type called LADA, a slow-progressing form of autoimmune diabetes.
Diabetes can affect anyone, whether they are an athlete or a regular individual. These tennis stars proved that it is possible to lead a fulfilling life on the professional front, despite the disease.