“Owen wants to play soccer — I signed him up with Penn Fusion.”
It was a simple text from his mother. It makes sense that he’d want to follow in his sister’s footsteps and play soccer. I was psyched to hear it. But I also knew that the real game — at least for me — would be managing his blood glucose before, during, and after every match.
Diabetes and Exercise: A Great Team
Exercise is one of the best tools we have in diabetes management. It improves cardiovascular health, helps with weight management, enhances mental well-being, and lowers the risk of chronic disease — just like it does for people without diabetes. But for those of us with diabetes, it also increases insulin sensitivity, which means better blood glucose control.
When we talk about “exercise,” think of riding a bike or using an elliptical trainer. It’s structured, planned, and repetitive — all things that make diabetes easier to manage. In fact, some of my best blood sugars come around exercise.
But sports? Sports are a whole different story.
Sports Aren’t Predictable — Especially Soccer
Unlike structured exercise, sports are anything but predictable. Soccer, for instance, is a mix of walking, jogging, and all-out sprinting. It’s not repetitive. You don’t always know how long you’ll be playing, especially if the game goes into overtime. And then there’s adrenaline — which can wreak havoc on blood sugar.
Still, I never said sports were impossible.
Diabetes and sports are totally doable. Tons of kids with diabetes play baseball, basketball, swimming, field hockey, track, ice hockey — you name it. I did it at Owen’s age, too. It just takes preparation and the ability to make some real-time decisions.
Enter: The Glucose Sensor
One huge advantage for kids with diabetes today is continuous glucose monitoring. Having real-time data — not just where your blood sugar is, but where it’s headed — is game-changing. If your CGM shows you’re trending low, you can take action. You can step off the field and grab some Gatorade before it becomes a problem.
When I was a kid with diabetes, I couldn’t have imagined that kind of freedom. But now, I can literally stand on the sidelines, monitor Owen’s numbers through the Dexcom Follow app, and be ready if he needs anything.
A Sideline Dream (or Nightmare?)
Of course, standing on the sidelines comes with its own challenges. After watching my daughter play for years, I knew parents weren’t allowed on the players’ side — we’re usually stuck on the opposite sideline.
One night, I went to bed thinking about how I’d manage this. And that’s when I had the weirdest dream. v
In it, I was standing with the other parents, watching Owen play. I looked down at the Follow app and saw double arrows down — a fast drop. I waved frantically at the coach. No response. In a panic, I sprinted across the field, waving my arms and yelling, “Owen needs Gatorade!” Every parent and child was staring at me. Owen? He put his head under his shirt in embarrassment.
Sure, it was just a dream. But honestly, it’s probably not far from what I’d do if I wasn’t prepared.
So I Made a Plan
I reached out to the coach and asked if I could be an assistant coach. That way, I could be on the players’ sideline and keep a close eye on Owen’s blood sugar. Unfortunately, the team already had its two allowed coaches.
Still, the coach was understanding. I explained Owen’s diabetes and asked if there was any flexibility. She contacted the soccer league’s management, and thankfully, they gave the green light for me to be on the players’ side.
Gear and Game Plan
From there, it was all about preparation. Owen already had a ROAD ID medical bracelet (which, by the way, is way cooler than the one I had growing up). I came armed with Sour Patch Kids and glucagon (Sour Patch Kids being the preferred option.) We stocked the sideline with a bottle of Gatorade — his choice of flavor — and a water bottle (which he was way less excited about).
The deal? If I told him to drink the Gatorade during the game, he would. If he didn’t need it all, we’d give insulin afterward, and he could finish it. Fair enough.
We also had an insulin management plan. A small snack with some protein and fat before the game, and insulin adjusted based on his blood sugar. (I’ll go into more specifics in another post.)
Game Day: The Marshmallows vs. The Sharks
The big day finally arrived. Owen’s team — the Marshmallows (they picked it because their shirts are white) — was playing a team in blue. I never caught their official name, so let’s just call them the Sharks.
Before the game, Owen had a peanut butter sandwich with a reduced bolus. He’s on the Dexcom G7 and uses the Mobi insulin pump, so I turned on Activity Mode at the same time.
We got to the field, and his blood sugar was 163 — a great number to start. He had a couple of swigs of Gatorade before heading out, and then it was game time.
He ran. He dove. He lunged. (Yes, this is the part where I gush as a proud parent.)
The game went way smoother than I expected — at least the diabetes part. His blood sugars stayed under 200 the whole game. The Marshmallows lost 6–1, but Owen didn’t care. He got to drink most of his Gatorade afterward, and let’s be real — Gatorade rocks.
Meanwhile, My Blood Sugar?
Adrenaline much? Honestly, I think I was more amped up than Owen, but this wasn’t my first rodeo. A generous bolus for the snack I had, had my blood sugar in range – not too bad Dad.
Final Thoughts
Watching Owen play that day reminded me of something simple but powerful: Diabetes doesn’t have to be a barrier. With planning, tools, and support, our kids can still do what they love. And yeah, it may require a few extra steps and maybe a weird dream or two. But it’s all worth it.