Playing Sports With Diabetes: Joining A Team

March 9, 2017

Do you ever think back to the days when being active was effortless? Whether you were outside playing tag until it got dark or if you were on the baseball or basketball team at school, somehow it never felt like work. You simply enjoyed doing it. The competition and camaraderie made exercise fun and exciting. Well, who says you can’t still have that? Joining an adult athletic league will not only give you a way to burn calories, but will also allow you to build relationships and, yes, have fun. Here’s how to become a team player:

Select a sport. There are loads of options when it comes to choosing a sport to play—you just have to figure out what you have time for, what you feel comfortable doing, and what equipment you already have. You could start by making a list of sports that you enjoy or have enjoyed playing, and then narrow them by season. In the winter, indoor sports are obviously easier to find. When playing sports with diabetes, there are a few extra things to consider, and it’s important to find which sport works best for you and your body. Try sports like badminton, basketball, volleyball or indoor soccer. In the spring and summer, you can head outdoors to play softball, ultimate frisbee, football, or lacrosse.

Do some research. Your next step is to find a league or organization. This should be fairly easy because most organized sports teams must be registered with the city. Check your city or town’s website for recreation or adult leagues. You can also look for leagues at:

Your work. Many human resources departments will have access to nearby leagues and may have a team already set up. Ask around and see if there’s room for a newcomer (or just ask when the games are so you can go watch and see if it is something you want to join).

Your church. Some churches have a recreation league; check your bulletin to find out when registration is.

Your gym. Ask around at your local gym or YMCA; they may have teams available for you to join or information on where to look for organized sports.

Try something new. Remember, you don’t have to be a professional. In fact, you’ll probably find that many people are in the exact same boat as you—they’re just looking to get fit and have some fun. So don’t limit yourself—if you haven’t played volleyball in years (or ever, for that matter) and think you’d enjoy yourself, go ahead and give it a shot. You’ll find that being a team player is a lot of fun!

Keep yourself powered and moving forward with endurance by trying out our Transcend Glucose Gels!