Ravens TE Mark Andrews discloses the struggles of having diabetes as he is forced to check blood sugar every time he comes off the field

Ravens TE Mark Andrews has to check his blood sugar levels everytime he comes off to field.

Ravens TE Mark Andrews discloses the struggles of having diabetes as he is forced to check blood sugar every time he comes off the field

Ravens TE Mark Andrews (Via Baltimore Beatdown)

When it comes to football, there are a lot of challenges that NFL players go through, both physically as well as emotionally. But when someone with a chronic illness such as type 1 diabetes gets on the field, things become a bit more complicated. And that’s the story of the Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, who fights a harder battle outside the field.

The Ravens’ star tight end was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the very young age of 9 years. Despite that, Andrews has been playing football at the top echelons for over a decade. He is the best tight end of the Ravens and has been the number 1 pass catcher in the franchise since he was drafted.
His supremacy in the NFL shows Andrews truly has an indomitable spirit and he ain’t going to settle with his illness.

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However, not many know about the struggle that the Oklahoma alum faces in day-to-day life, especially when it comes to the field. A recent tweet shared by Dov Kleiman highlighted Andrews’ diabetes story and gave a reality check on his struggles, including finger pricks, a strict diet regime, and constant monitoring.

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Nonetheless, these struggles never come in the way of his exceptional dedication to his sport. In the clip shared by Kleiman, an interviewer asked the star tight-end about his blood glucose monitor, to which he replied, “Checks my blood sugar..every time I come off the field.”

Andrews explained:

When my blood sugar is a little higher I gotta give insulin to bring it down. When it's lower I take some sugar.. like some Gatorade or something like that.

Besides his endless training or the passes he catches, Andrews keeps himself going with a rigorous diet and monitoring his regimen. This helps him keep his blood sugar levels at bay, i.e., stable.

What is Mark Andrews’ strict diet that he follows?

During a conversation with GQ, the 2017 John Mackey Award winner opened up about his diabetes, mentioning the glucose monitor that he wears that monitors his condition and keeps it visible. He carries a support crew with him all the time, who helps him if he needs it.

Mark Andrews
Mark Andrews struggles with diabetes (Via One Drop)

The Ravens’ tight end also shed light on his diet regime, comprising a special sugar-free sports drink that he takes during the game. He begins his day with a protein shake and a breakfast of oatmeal, bananas, and eggs. As he works out, his next meal gets prepared consisting of another shake. Andrews prefers keeping his lunch light with rice, chicken, and fruit.

After the evening workout and consuming another protein shake, the tight end moves on his dinner, which is the main meal. It comprises fish, rice, or chicken with a fresh salad. Before going to bed, he takes his late protein shake.

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