NRL player Brett Stewart talks about diabetes and his rising career

BRETT VIVIDLY REMEMBERS the day he was diagnosed.

He was sitting in his high school English class reading a book when he began to feel very unwell.
“I just suddenly broke down and started crying for no reason,” Brett said.

“I stood up and was feeling faint. My touch football coach took me down to the sick bay and called my mum and dad.”

He was taken to the local GP who tested his BGL and found it was very high at 29.
“When they told me I had diabetes, I didn’t know what it was,” he said “I didn’t know what I had to do for it.

“I went to the hospital for the next two weeks. My dad sat me down for a talk, just the two of us, and he told me that it was a serious condition and we would have to look after it as much as we could.”

This attitude of keeping control on diabetes - and not letting it control him – has carried Brett forward to the success that he enjoys today in professional football.

“It took me a lot of trial and error and to get my energy levels right for training and games,” Brett said.

However, Brett’s dedication paid off three years ago when he received a phone call…
“I was on standby when the first grade fullback suffered a knee injury. The coach called me and said to go to training that weekend. When I got there, they told me the fullback had been ruled out of the game, and I would be playing.”

“Playing professional football has always been my dream, so I was really excited when the opportunity came - I couldn’t wait to do it!”

Brett, who plays for the Manly Sea Eagles, said it is good to know that he - like many people with diabetes - has had to face fears about his diabetes control many times.

“Some of the tougher times were about confidence,” he said.

“Some days are easier than others. Sometimes I would feel like I should forget trying to play professional football, because there’s a lot involved in travelling and training, and then there’s a lot you need to balance between insulin, what you eat and the physical activity you do.”
But he says support from his family has helped him through the times of doubt.

“Diabetes was new to mum and dad too when I was diagnosed, because no-one else in our family has it. They helped me very much. If I was feeling down, they would support me and tell me to keep my chin up, which was just what I needed.”

Brett remembers being especially anxious when it came time for him to change from a routine of two insulin injections a day, to four injections.

“It was pretty scary. I thought two injections – one at breakfast and one at lunch - was bad enough. I didn’t like the idea of having to take my insulin and needles around with me wherever I went.”

“Later on, I was glad I did it. I had a lot less hypos after that and my BGLs were more predictable.”

Brett says it is important to remember that there will always be good days and bad days with diabetes, but each time you learn a bit more about diabetes and become a better person.

“No one chooses to be diagnosed with diabetes. It can be debilitating, but if you look after it, you can do anything. It’s all about the mental aspect and staying positive.”

For the families and friends of people with diabetes, Brett has this advice:
“Just give them personal space when they want a bit of space, and caring when they want caring.”