Jordan Thompson (pictured)
Diabetes UK Ambassador
Jordan Thompson, ambassador for Diabetes UK and professional cricketer, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2013. He wants to share his experiences with the aim of encouraging others to seek help.
What impact has your diagnosis had on your life?
I would say that being diagnosed has had a positive effect on me. At first, I didn’t know if I could play sport, let alone professionally. However, I was so determined to look after myself whilst trying to get to the highest level in cricket possible.
There’s always the occasional hindrance that type 1 brings. For example, taking an insulin pen and a packet of fruit pastilles everywhere can sometimes be a bit of a nuisance, but I’ve got better at managing it.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in managing your diabetes and playing cricket?
The biggest challenge for me is just making sure that my blood sugar levels behave whilst I’m playing or training. All the coaching staff and my teammates know that I have type 1, so they always look out for me and make sure that I’m ok. It is important that everyone knows about your condition and understands it.
In the early days of my diagnosis, my teammates didn’t really understand what type 1 was. Now if I need sugar, then they’re always there to quickly get me a Lucozade or Red Bull and then I can carry on as normal.
What advice would you give to others going through a similar experience?
My advice to others living with type 1 diabetes is to try and be positive. We have such a tricky condition that has a mind of its own at times. So, it is important not to be hard on yourself when you have a bad day or two.
In sporting environments, it’s important to make sure everyone knows about your situation and that they know what to do in an emergency.
Overall, enjoy yourself. It’s a barrier that we can all overcome, with a couple of bumps in the road. But we are always trying our best!
