Playing competitive hockey while managing Type 1 Diabetes comes with some extra challenges, but Strathroy Rockets player Nolan Jezewski says it has never stopped him from doing what he loves.
His mother took him to the hospital in 2023, where he learned he had Type 1 Diabetes.
While the diagnosis changed some parts of his daily life, Jezewski says support from his family, medical team and advances in technology helped him get back to his normal routine.
He now uses an insulin pump and continous glucose monitor (CGM) to help manage his diabetes.
Jezewski says he was fortunate to return to hockey quickly and the diagnosis didn’t have much of an effect on his commitment to hockey.
He tells myFM he did something special not long after his diagnosis.
He says managing diabetes during hockey has become part of his regular routine. He makes sure to have sugar nearby, keeps track of his blood sugar levels and plans his meals around games.
He also credits the Strathroy Rockets training staff for helping him manage his condition.
Jezewski notes that having Type 1 diabetes does not mean someone has to give up the things they enjoy.
His message to young athletes living with diabetes is simple.
He also encourages people living with diabetes in Strathroy and surrounding communities to connect with others who understand what they are going through.
Photo by: K. Milhomens
