There were mood swings and blurred vision. Fatigue despite plenty of sleep. Infections that wouldn’t heal, a pesky rash and light headedness that arrived in unexpected waves.
Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young felt “weird” all the time last year. Not coincidentally, there were off-field scrapes and career lows at the plate before released by Detroit.
Finally, Young spent three days in intensive care in November. That proved the good part, though. Young learned he was among 6.2 million Americans who are undiagnosed diabetics.
“I was more sad than anything,” Young said. “But I was also relieved because it answered so many questions with what’s going on with me.”
Young now receives dailyinsulin injections as a Type-2 diabetic. He gave up white bread and sweets except for an occasional donut on weekends. His favorite sushi is now rare because most restaurants don’t offer brown rice — which is eaten by diabetics for its superior time-release impact on blood sugar levels.
Wonder why Young, amid an All-Star year, is baseball’s hottest hitter since May 1 (including his game-winning three-run homer Monday night)? It’s simple — he feels much better.
Young has only needed insulin injections twice during games this season when his hands tingled to indicate low blood sugar levels that can feel like Dracula sucking the life out of you. He also eats a granola bar before games to offset the physical demands.
“It’s been up and down,” Young conceded. “Mainly up, but there are days I’m dragging my feet a little bit. Now I know what it is. Before, it was weird. Maybe I overslept? Now I know what it is.”
More than 20 million Americans are diabetic. San Diego pitcher David Wells became one last year. Young has met a few diabetic umpires who offered eating tips. It’s a brotherhood that was once secret because athletes feared discrimination. Even Young admits not quite knowing how others will handle his disclosure.
Diabetics are commonplace in sports nowadays, though. Former Washington Redskins guard Jay Leeuwenburg kept his insulin nearby during practices and recently wrote “Yes I can! Yes you can. Tackle Diabetes and Win.” Redskins coach Joe Gibbs and golfers Michelle McGann and Scott Verplank are also among the many diabetics in sports.
Now Young is the latest to show it’s not an obstacle, only a hurdle. Young, 33, is hitting a career-best .339 in seeking to become Washington’s first batting champion since Mickey Vernon 54 years ago. That is, if Young isn’t swapped for prospects by the July 31 trade deadline.
Meanwhile, Young is looking for a dietician to further educate him. With two grandparents that were diabetics and several cousins who are borderline, Young knows it’s now his lifetime opponent.
“I want to know more,” he said. “I try to do it the best I can, but I want it professionally done.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
