An up-and-coming Rugby League star with type 1 diabetes has spoken out about how he manages his condition alongside his sporting career.
Cameron Scott, who is currently on loan from Hull FC and is playing as a centre for Leigh Centurions, was diagnosed at the age of 14, but refused to let the news get him down.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Post newspaper, the 20-year-old, said: “Instead of rolling over and letting it take control, I just took over it. It was one of those things where I knew I was going to have it for the rest of my life, so it was just a matter of getting on with it.”
He added: “I’ve never really had any problems with my diabetes – sometimes it’s like it’s not even there and that’s just the way I like it. I test my blood sugar levels before a match and at half-time but have never had a hypo or anything like that during a game. It’s always been fine.”
Cameron is not the only star to have type 1 diabetes within the sport. Doncaster RLFC boss Richard Horne also has the condition and their paths crossed when he coached Cameron at Hull and during loan spells with the South Yorkshire club.
Scott, who joined just over two years ago, said: “I did talk to Horney about it and how he dealt with it, but everyone is different.
“Some things that work for him didn’t work for me and vice versa so it’s finding that middle ground. I inject myself so I don’t have an insulin pump; I tried to go with anything that isn’t attached so I don’t have a blood testing sensor on my arm either.
“I know it’d be easier getting readings that way and things like that but playing and training with it would mean the chance of it being pulled off are higher.”
