Nolan winning his battle with diabetes
April 11, 2014
2011 All-Ireland final Man of the Match Kevin Nolan.
Dublin ace Kevin Nolan is refusing to let Type One diabetes put a dampener on his football career.
The Kilmacud Crokes clubman was hit with news that he was suffering from the condition after inspiring his county to glory in the 2011 All-Ireland final. He took a break from the game at the start of last year and then failed to get back into Jim Gavin's high-flying team as a second Sam Maguire in three seasons was culled.
But Nolan has just completed back-to-back league matches in the half-back line for the Dubs and will be involved again on Sunday as they take on Cork for a place in the league final:
"I took a lot of encouragement from the likes of Gary Mabbutt - I never saw him play but I heard of this English footballer playing with diabetes. And Stephen Redgrave winning an Olympic gold medal with diabetes too... So it is just another challenge," he is quoted in today's Irish Independent.
"I got a phone call from a player in Monaghan there recently and he said you're not allowed wear [an insulin pump during a game] because it is illegal. It's classified as a weapon on a Gaelic pitch. I don't use pumps; I use pens to inject insulin but it's something I might look into.
"It's attached to you and constantly dropping insulin in but it's something I'd have to ask the GAA about.
"You have teams wearing these GPS monitors and heart-rate monitors and I see nothing different about this - although from what I heard it costs between €3-4,000 so it's not something you might want on a GAA pitch because it's not the politest of games and a few knocks could damage it very easily.
"The blood sugars have to be right, I have to eat before a certain time and just make sure that the insulin I give myself is matching up to the food that I eat. Other lads don't have to worry about that but they can't go out and eat a Big Mac and chips, I can't do that as well but I have just got to be a bit more careful with what I eat.
"I have to eat gluten-free stuff but it is just about being prepared, being organised and being in control."
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