The Georgetown Hoyas’ leading scorer, junior Austin Freeman has been diagnosed with diabetes, according to a recent article from the Washington Post. He initially thought he had a stomach virus.
Freeman, 20, received the diagnosis shortly after he was rushed to the emergency room on Monday. The 6-foot-4 guard rejoined his team for practice on Wednesday. Right now Freeman is considered “day-to-day” and it is unclear whether he will return for the teams final regular season game against Cincinnati or the start of the Big East tournament in New York on Tuesday.
Stephen Clement, head of the Diabetes Center at Georgetown University Hospital said it may take as long as a month to determine whether Freeman has Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and how best to treat him. People with Type 1 diabetes do not produce the insulin, the hormone that regulates the amount of sugar in the blood. They must inject insulin several times a day to regulate their blood sugar. People with Type 2 diabetes produce insulin, but their body does not use it efficiently. Some people with Type 2 can put their diabetes in check with diet and exercise, but most need medication to help control their sugar levels. With both types, it is important to keep blood sugar levels under control to avoid some dangerous short-term and long-term complications.
Many accomplished athletes have competed at the highest level of their sports while suffering from diabetes, according to a separate column in the Washington Post. Most recently cross-country skier Kris Freeman competed at the Olympic Games in Vancouver. Baseball Hall of Famer and all-around bad guy Ty Cobb, boxer Joe Frazier, tennis legend Arthur Ashe and hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke of the Flyers all played with diabetes.
Jay Cutler, quarterback of the Chicago Bears, Adam Morrison of the NBA’s Lakers, and Brandon Morrow, a pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays all have diabetes.
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