Mike McGilton is a journalism student at New Mexico State University who plays golf while living with type 1 diabetes; he was diagnosed at age 7. Though diabetes presents challenges like monitoring his blood sugar and eating during tournaments, McGilton manages it well with an insulin pump and support from his teammates and coaches, allowing him to fully participate in golf without limitations. He hopes to inspire others living with diabetes or other illnesses that they should not be ashamed and can learn a lot about themselves.

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Nothing holds him back: Golf player learns how to live with diabetes
December 8, 2015 by Berto Perez · 0 commentsViews: 16
By Berto Pérez//
Athletes are known for winning in their respective sport, but sometimes they fight and win personal battles daily.
Mike McGilton, a Journalism student at New Mexico State University has type-one diabetes and is on the golf team.
McGilton was diagnosed with the disease when he was 7-years-old when his mother observed that he was constantly gaining and losing weight.
“My mom saw a lot of changes in me,” he said. “I was losing weight, but I was eating a lot. I was wetting the bed. I was having nightmares. I was sweating all the
time, so she just took me to the hospital on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.”
According to mayoclinic.com, type-one diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little to no glucose to enter the cells to produce energy. In
the world of sports, diabetes affects all kinds of athletes such as Vance Heffner who is a professional golfer.
Having diabetes has affected McGilton’s life in good and bad ways.
Mike McGilton at NMSU. Photo by Filiberto
Perez
“The good ways, it has taught me a lot about myself. It has taught me a lot of responsibility, because that comes first before anything else, you know,” he said. “If
I’m going out to play golf before I warm up or anything, I have to make sure my numbers are okay, before I head out,” he added.
When McGilton was little, diabetes bothered him a lot because he had to do shots while at school 10 times a day.
“My mom would come at lunch and give me a shot and when I went to go practice, my parents always had to be with me,” McGilton said.
However, that all changed when McGilton was 12 when he got the insulin pump and he said it has helped tremendously.
Although McGilton is the only person in his family to have type-one diabetes, it does not stop him from doing activities he loves.

2. While having diabetes affects people differently, McGilton’s attitude is vibrant and his outlook on life is positive.
“To me, it’s something I have to deal with,” he said.
During tournament time, McGliton’s numbers have affected him from playing to his full potential.
“There has been a few times where I had to stop playing, you know, I started before the round, it wasn’t very good, and then played a few holes and I didn’t feel
good, and I had to stop,” McGilton said. “But it doesn’t happen very often. I feel like I do a pretty good job of monitoring it so it doesn’t happen,” he added.
While on the golf team, McGilton’s team members and coaches are supportive and make sure he is doing what is needed in order to play well.
“My team members are always making sure, asking if I feel alright,” he said. “They see me, you know, eating food and ask, how’s your number. My coach is
always constantly asking, did you check your number, do you have enough insulin, did you eat today, what did you eat,” McGilton added.
Joey Martinez, student and teammate with McGilton at NMSU have been on the golf team for two years.
“His diabetes does have some affect on his life and added obstacles in every day activities,” Martinez said. “I think by now he’s learned how to adjust and make
sure his number is always in control. During golf it would be hard to control and your golf game if your number fluctuated a lot,” he added.
McGilton has to prepare for a golf tournament differently than his other teammates.
“I have to make sure I have enough food in my golf pack. I have to, you know, test my number before I play, while I play,” he said. “I have to be eating out there,
even if I don’t want to, I have to,” McGilton added.
If McGilton’s numbers are not right, several things begin to happen.
“Usually, when I play on the golf course, it usually drops, so I need food,” he said. “I get real dizzy. I get shaky. I start cold sweats. It’s hard to focus, because your
eyes kind of all over the place when you’re trying to stand over to putt,” he added.
However, he said it doesn’t take long to adjust once he starts eating, because the sugar goes straight to his blood.
McGilton is not limited to anything while on the golf course in terms of warm ups and stretches with his automatic insulin pump. Nothing holds him back as he
smiles.
“I can do pretty much anything, whatever I want,” he said.
To anyone else living with diabetes or any other illness, McGilton said that one has to embrace it.
“It doesn’t make you any different than the person sitting next to you,” he said. “In my honest opinion, I think that with me having diabetes it has made me a better
person, so I don’t think anyone should be ashamed of saying, I have such and such, because in the end, you learn so much about yourself and about others and that
it’s okay,” McGilton added.
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3. Tags: athlete, diabetes type-one, golf, golf player, Mike McGilton, NMSU
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