Gary Hall Jr
Olympic Swimmer, Type I Diabetes. Two-time Olympic gold Medalist Gary Hall Jr was first diagnosed with Type I Diabetes in 1998, when he was training for the Goodwill Games. He’d found himself shaking after practices, and was experiencing an inquenchable thirst. Then his vision began to blur. All of which, he was later told, are classic signs of diabetes. Doctors told Hall that his professional swimming career was over. Hall didn’t take no for an answer, revamping his routine to better manage his symptoms while he trained. Hall finished the Sydney Olympics with four medals, two of which were gold.
What is Type I Diabetes? In individuals with Type I diabetes, the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Hall told HealthDay that “The first endocrinologist I saw informed me that it was highly unlikely I could continue at the level of competition I was accustomed to. Devastated doesn’t even come close to describing it. I just wanted to lie on the floor and disappear. I located another physician, Dr. Anne Peters, then at UCLA. She sat down and we discussed my schedule and we came up with a game plan. She’s been so instrumental in my ability to overcome this disease to the extent I have.”
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