Wells Battles Diabetes

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Padres left-hander David Wells has Type 2 diabetes. Wells says he has made modifications to his lifestyle since learning about his condition:

From the time I found out, I made changes. No more starches and sugar. No more rice, pasta, potatoes and white bread. No more fast food. I’ve cut out alcohol.

I can still have a glass of wine now and then. I can still run with the guys. But I’ve got to watch what I’m doing. I’m not drinking.

Wells, of course, isn’t the only Padres pitcher who has diabetes. Right-hander Scott Cassidy learned in 2000, while pitching in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, that he had juvenile diabetes.

Other baseball players who have battled diabetes during their careers include former Cubs third baseman Ron Santo and longtime big-league right-hander Bill Gullickson. More recently, pro basketball player Adam Morrison has been in the spotlight for his condition.

Heck, even Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr. has had to deal with diabetes. Not that Wells is in anywhere near the shape that Hall is, but it sounds like this thing is beatable.

Here’s hoping…

20 Comments

  1. Posted March 19, 2007 at 9:25 am | Permalink

    Your awesome, thanks for the tip. Check it out on Diabetes Notes.

  2. Anthony
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 10:04 am | Permalink

    I don’t know much about diabetes but if he sticks to that diet Wells will lose a ton of weight during the season. Hopefully that will have a positive affect on his performance but, as the article mentions, endurance could be a concern.

  3. Debbie
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 10:31 am | Permalink

    I don’t think there’s many rabbits eating a lot of salads, chicken, and fish, but we get the idea David.

    If he follows that diet, this diagnosis could be the best thing that could’ve happened to him at this point. Unless he doesn’t pitch well when he’s grumpy.

  4. Tom Waits
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 11:06 am | Permalink

    I’m worried about his energy levels if he can’t eat carbohydrates. You can make up for it on game day with caffeine or a nitrous drink, but those aren’t the healthiest things either.

  5. Debbie
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 1:01 pm | Permalink

    My mom is diabetic. She eats carbs and has a lot of variety in her diet. You just have to closely manage how and when you eat. If she doesn’t have carefully spaced meals she will have low blood sugar attacks, which can be scary.

    I think David is freaking out because he just got the news, but he will quickly learn how to manage it well.

  6. Posted March 19, 2007 at 1:15 pm | Permalink

    3: That’d be one bad ass rabbit.

  7. PF4L
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 1:31 pm | Permalink

    Talk about a bad-ass rabbit…I was emailed a little video snipit of a rabbit that was repeatedly struck by a snake (the snake missed each time). Well, eventually the rabbit got tired of this, started to bite the snake on it’s tail and chased the snake across the yard and up a tree. It was hilarious. That one one tough rabbit. It might have been on America’s funniest video’s or some such show.

    Unfortunately I had to clean out my email inbox because the video took too much space and I neglected to save the attachment.

    Bummer about Boomer.

  8. dprat
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 2:26 pm | Permalink

    Solid start from Peavy this afternoon…. 4 IP, 3H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K… Pads up 2-0 over A’s in the 5th.

  9. dprat
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 2:41 pm | Permalink

    Peavy’s final line:
    4.2 IP – 3 H – 0 R – 2 BB – 6 K

  10. LynchMob
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 4:01 pm | Permalink

    HOME RUNS: SDG – PETE LAFOREST (1) OFF ESTEBAN LOAIZA IN THE 2ND
    KHALIL GREENE (4) OFF JAY WITASICK IN THE 6TH
    PETE LAFOREST (2) OFF SHAWN KOHN IN THE 8TH

    http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore;_ylt=AvdFv2ktLiool2tuyqIDqUQRvLYF?gid=270319111

    Now 11-4 after top of 8th …

  11. Jonathan S.
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 5:18 pm | Permalink

    #7, thanks to Youtube…
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ez5QPW-ku4

  12. Posted March 19, 2007 at 6:05 pm | Permalink

    Threadjack!

    I got all excited listening to the radio Spring Training broadcast today… Cedric Hunter got a hit off Alen Embree & played some CF. Now I KNOW Nick Hundley didn’t play CF, but the box score has Hundley getting a hit and doesn’t have Hunter in there…

    Does anyone know who really played?

  13. Peter Friberg
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 6:15 pm | Permalink

    I think I answered my own question…

    http://mlb.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2007_03_19_sdnmlb_oakmlb_1

    MLB.com has Hunter playing not Hundley.

    What an at-bat!

    Hunter, a lefty who just turned 19 last week & who really only played against Rookie-ball competition last year faces a premiere LOOGY:

    Pitch 1: Strike
    Pitch 2: Ball – outside (according to XX Sports Radio)
    Pitch 3: Ball – outisde
    Pitch 4: Ball – low – Coleman said it was right over the plate but low & was impressed he spit on it
    Pitch 4: Strike – full count
    Pitch 5: Foul
    Pitch 6: Foul
    Pitch 7: RBI-single

    HUGE! The Legend of Cedric continues!

  14. Ben B.
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 6:20 pm | Permalink

    The boxscore on the mlb website has Hunter in there at CF with a 1.000 batting average for the spring. He also stole second base.
    http://mlb.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2007_03_19_sdnmlb_oakmlb_1

    On another note, Khalil is hitting for a lot of power this spring. Home run and a double today, and he was slugging .688 before today.

  15. Jonathan S.
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 6:32 pm | Permalink

    Padres claim Justin Germano off waivers…not a bad claim

    http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=padresgermano&prov=st&type=lgns

  16. Ben B.
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 6:36 pm | Permalink

    14- LOL. I love your enthusiasm Peter. Did you see Hunter ranked as the 10th best young centerfielder in baseball according to PECOTA? Nate Silver asked why stat-heads haven’t created fan clubs for him yet.

  17. Jonathan S.
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 6:42 pm | Permalink

    Try this trivia question without going to baseball reference (Where I found it)…..

    If Pete LaForest plays for the Padres this year he would become the second Québécois that has played for the Padres. Name the other one.

  18. Peter Friberg
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 6:48 pm | Permalink

    Re 17. I’ve already (unofficially) started his fan club. I think he can be a better hitter than Derek Jeter (now keep in mind, Jeter will have more value b/c he plays SS)… But if Hunter can stay in CF… Wow!

  19. Pat
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 11:11 pm | Permalink

    Well, if he’s a better hitter than Jeter and he plays CF in Petco, relative to the way most people believe Jeter plays SS, which is not very well, he could be more valuable.

  20. Pat
    Posted March 19, 2007 at 11:58 pm | Permalink

    Tangotiger community reports:

    http://www.tangotiger.net/community/index.shtml

2 Trackbacks

  1. By Diabetes Notes on March 19, 2007 at 8:36 am

    San Diego Pitcher David Wells Is Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes…

    A little less potatoes, rice and fewer beers with the boys. This is what San Diego Padres pitcher David Wells has learned in his 2 short weeks since being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The 43 year old pitcher has begun a new lifestyle eating as he …

  2. By Knuckle Curve » Wells Vows to Beat Diabetes on March 19, 2007 at 2:23 pm

    [...] You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your ownsite. [...]

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