When Alexander Zverev won the French Open and then US Open this year headlines focused on the trophy. But for many people living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), a different moment stood out.
During the tournament, Zverev was photographed checking his glucose levels and administering insulin courtside, something millions of people with T1D do every day.
The image quickly circulated online, offering a rare glimpse into the reality of managing T1D at the highest level of professional sports.
Living with T1D as professional tennis player
Diagnosed with T1D at age four, Zverev has spent nearly his entire life balancing elite athletics with the demands of a chronic autoimmune disease.
Long before he became a Grand Slam champion, he was learning how to monitor blood glucose, calculate insulin doses, and adapt to the countless variables that come with life with T1D.
For years, however, he kept his diagnosis private. He has shared that he worried people would see diabetes as a weakness or assume it would prevent him from reaching the highest level of professional tennis.
As a child, he was told there would be limits to what he could achieve because of his condition. Instead, he became an Olympic gold medalist, a Grand Slam champion, and one of the most successful tennis players in the world.
How athletes manage blood glucose during competition
Tennis is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world!
Matches can last for hours, often in extreme heat, requiring athletes to maintain focus, endurance, and precision from the first point to the last.
Every sprint, serve, and changeover can affect blood glucose levels. A low blood sugar can impact reaction time, balance and coordination, critical thinking and concentration.
A high blood sugar can affect energy levels, eye sight, hydration, and performance. Managing these variables is a critical part of every match.
Raising awareness through foundation
In 2022, Zverev decided to publicly share his diagnosis and launched the Alexander Zverev Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting children living with T1D.
Through the foundation, he has worked to provide insulin, diabetes supplies, and resources to children and families around the world while encouraging young people with T1D to pursue their goals without fear.
His decision to speak openly about diabetes has helped bring greater visibility to a condition that is often misunderstood.
