Carlyle shares experience with diabetes
Bisons pitcher Buddy Carlyle was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the start of the 2009 season when he was with the Atlanta Braves.
He lost up to 34 pounds in just two weeks and then went on the disabled list for more than three months.
Living with this disease has been a struggle at times, but Carlyle knew he could live a healthy and happy life with his family, as well as continuing to play the game he loves.
The veteran reliever, along with strength coach Armando Gutierrez and fellow pitcher Dustin McGowan spoke to several youngsters living with diabetes in Luke n' Ollie's Party Area at Coca-Cola Field about an hour before the Bisons 7:05 p.m. first pitch against Indianapolis Thursday night.
"It's really special," Carlyle said about being able to talk about living with diabetes to young kids. "It's a unique opportunity, especially with a lot of kids just finding out they're diabetic, to show they can do whatever they want (with their life)."
Carlyle's biggest message was that having diabetes will not hinder people's dreams to play sports at a high level and go on living an active life.
The reliever said after losing so much weight in such little time, he often lost a lot of energy while trying to gain his strength and weight back. But, since he has gained the weight back he hasn't had any sever problems while pitching or preparing for games.
Carlyle wears a small device on his arm called an Omni-pod, which pumps insulin into his body very easily without having to take any shots. The device helps him keep his blood sugar monitored so it does not get too high or too low throughout the day. He said he doesn't always wear it consistently and sometimes goes back to taking shots of insulin at times.
Carlyle has never had any incidents during games or practice since he was diagnosed with diabetes. He checks his blood sugar constantly throughout the day and five times or more while he is in the bullpen during games.
Gutierrez and McGowan are type 1 diabetics as well. Gutierrez was diagnosed with the disease 11 years ago, while McGowan has had it for nine years.
"It hasn't stopped me from doing anything I want to do," Gutierrez said to the children and parents who attended.
McGowan lost 20 pounds after he was diagnosed with diabetes. His doctors actually misdiagnosed him by telling him he had type 2 diabetes. He was taking pills for a certain period of time that were not helping him in any way.
Two years ago, McGowan started using a pump, which he wears on his waist to monitor his blood sugar.
"I eat healthier and learn to live with," McGowan said of dealing with diabetes.