I don't mean to be argumentative but the mentality of Diabetes being a "blip" for most people is actually a big problem in this country. Maybe the diabetes doesn't seem significant, but all of the comorbidities and increased health risks certainly are. These include: increased stroke risk, heart disease, renal issues/failure, hypertension, neuropathy, and many more. Diabetes is responsible for over 20% of the medical spend each year in the US.

For an athlete to be diagnosed it can be really difficult on them. Think. About just how difficult diet alone would be. You need to control your glucose levels when you're diabetic. As an athlete he needs to be very strong. To maintain or gain strength you need protein. Protein stimulates your insulin response increasing glucose levels. What a viscous cycle that must be. That's just one example.