From Grassroots to Game Day: Owning the Pitch With Type 1 Diabetes

Skye Norton 

Just like that, Grassroots football is over and a new football journey begins.

I’ve been a goalkeeper for my team for nearly 5 years. Playing football for my school and being part of a goalkeeper development programme with Norwich City. What people don’t see is everything I have to do to keep my glucose levels in range before I’ve even put on my gloves and walked out onto the pitch. As a goalkeeper, my mindset is really important and trying to stay focused, alert, and not let emotions take over the game can be really tough. On top of this, the adrenaline of a match can kick in, and for me, my glucose levels can shoot up really high.

Controlling my glucose levels starts from the night before, making sure I’ve carb counted correctly for everything I’ve eaten to ensure a good night’s sleep. Waking up in the morning and making sure my glucose levels are in range. Do I need a snack before? Should I set Activity Mode on? Or do I need more insulin? What’s the weather like - will it affect my glucose levels while playing?

Making sure I have a well-balanced breakfast to gives me the best chance of staying in range. If I’m playing a tough team, I know I’m going to be working hard, however if we’re playing a team where it’s all at the other end, it means I won’t need anything extra as I won’t be working as hard. So many decisions before I'm on the pitch!

I’m incredibly lucky to have the support of my team behind me, I have had the most supportive coaches over the years. Living with type 1 has never been a problem within my team. I keep a sugary drink in my goal to keep sipping on if I need to, and my Controller and kit are goal side so while on the pitch, I’m not too far away from my kit. It makes a huge difference when you’re surrounded by people that support you.

Playing football and living with type 1 hasn’t always been smooth. I’ve had to play alongside players, coaches, and referees that didn’ttruly understand what living with type 1 means. A lack of understanding can make you feel really frustrated and can get to the point where you end up accepting that people won’t understand, and all you can do is keep educating others as you go.

I once played a match where the opposition coach didn’t want to stop the match when I was in a hypo. Being the goalkeeper, I keep my kit nearby, but I knew I just needed to grab some sugar, so I wanted to come off briefly. “It wasn’t a first aid issue,” he shouted. However, if I’d stayed on the pitch and not spoken up, it would likely have been not just a first aid issue but a medical emergency. This is the only time I’ve needed to come off and that a coach made me feel awful about it. As any footballer will tell you, type 1 or not, nobody wants to head off in a game as a sub unless you have to. So being brave enough to speak up and then be shouted at was a horrible experience, especially as at the time I was still quite young. Thankfully, my parents and coaches were there to stand up for me too.

Thankfully, life has been made so much easier with my Omnipod® 5. Being on the hybrid closed loop system, my high glucose levels are so much more in control, making me quicker off the line and keeping me more focused on the game. My nighttime levels are more in range, giving me more sleep too. Knowing I have my Omnipod working hard in the background means I can truly focus on the game. I often think about where I am placing my Pod, because as a goalkeeper, I’m always diving to the ground. The back of my arm is usually my favourite, but I’ve been trying out putting it on my leg too.

The last couple of years have been awesome, our school won the National Cup, and last year our team won the league. For me, lifting that cup and receiving trophies was another reminder of how far I’ve come. Type 1 diabetes absolutely did not stop me from playing football, and it never will!

For anyone that’s thinking of starting football and joining a team, do it and don’t let living with type 1 stop you. Find a team where the coaches and team support you. Speak to your dietitian and find out what works for you. What works for one person may not work for others. Keep your kit and Controller nearby where you can access it easily. My mum and dad used to watch my glucose levels pitch side too, which also really helped when I was younger.

I found joining the Diabetes Football Community and taking part in their summer football festivals also made such a difference. Being surrounded by so many people with type 1 diabetes playing football going through exactly the same as you, makes you feel less alone.

Next season it’s ladies' football, another new experience to navigate, but I’m ready! For now, I’m looking forward to a summer filled with football!!!