Diabetes is a lethal disease and can hamper one’s quality of life. It weakens the immune system and brings a lot of other diseases as well in your body like blood pressure, cardiac disease, and depression.
In India, more than 77 million people are living with diabetes. Researchers predict that this will increase to 134 million by 2045.
And even cricketers are not untouched by this deadly disease. Despite maintaining their best health and fitness, sticking to an eating plan, and indulging in regular practice and workout sessions, some cricket players still develop the diabetes.
Let’s have a look at the cricketers who fought diabetes.
1. Craig Cumming
Craig Cumming from New Zealand was diagnosed with diabetes quite early in his life and was tested for Type 1 in 2006. He once said,
“The way I was feeling mentally and physically, I was probably ready to give up cricket. You need a fair bit of mental and physical strength, but I’d lost all that and remember making a phone call to a good friend . . . and talked about whether I wanted to continue playing. But, once I started on insulin, it was like I’d been injected with energy.”
2. Wasim Akram
The Pakistani legendary pacer was also diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of just 29 but he didn’t let that ruin his career as he eventually ended up as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the world. Once He said,
“I was diagnosed with diabetes in 1997. I was only 29 years old. I thought my life was gone — no more cricket. But, my wife gave me mental strength. It’s just mental discipline. Temptations are there. I feel like having biryani every night — naans and kulchas, and niharis. But I avoid it,”
3. Sophie Devine
The 31-year-old all-rounder and New Zealand skipper was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 15, and she has had it ever since. She hasn’t only lived; she has also competed at the highest levels in hockey and cricket. With a strict diet and exercise regimen as well as acceptance of her illness as a part of her everyday life, Devine accomplished the challenge of not letting diabetes win.
4. John McLaren
The right-handed batsman from Australia fought hard to conquer diabetes but unfortunately passed away in 1921. He played one Test for Australia and 33 First-Class matches for Queensland.
5. Craig McMillan
The New Zealand batsman was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the early age of 15. He always carried a bag of jellybeans with him in the field to lift his sugar levels if he felt his sugar levels were declining. The result of the self-belief and being mentally strong was an 11-year-old international career with 3,116 Test runs and 4,707 one-day runs.
6. Dirk Wellham
Despite having diabetes, the former legendary Australian batsman did not deter his spirits. He had a six-year cricketing career and played six Test matches, as well as 17 ODIs, and is one of three players to score a century in both his First-Class and Test debuts.
