Anyone with type 1 diabetes knows that sports can be a challenge when it comes to managing blood sugar. It can seem even more daunting when the athlete is a child.

Stacey Mertes says her sports-loving son Logan never let his T1D slow him down, even at an early age. One month after Logan was diagnosed at age 6 he completed the Columbia Tower Climb, which entails climbing 69 flights of stairs. Unsure how it would impact his blood sugar, his parents and grandparents accompanied him armed with ample sugar and testing supplies. He finished in less than 15 minutes and went on to complete several other major stair climbs by the time he turned 8.

Logan started playing basketball in second grade. He fell in love with the sport and has been playing it year-round ever since. He attended overnight basketball camps, played in tournaments with multiple games each day, and continually worked with coaches and trainers to take his game to the next level. He made the Varsity team his freshman year of high school and helped his team go to the State Championship. Last year at the age of 14 Logan was named Rookie of the Year by the coaches in the 1A league.

Stacey says Logan never complains about his T1D and he’s never let it stop him from playing the sports he loves. When he was younger he attended various camps and events with T1D athletes who inspired him including Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr, snowboarder Sean Busby and triathlete Jay Hewitt. Even at a young age, Logan took their words of encouragement about living and competing with T1D to heart – including the message to always persevere and finish what you’ve started.

For basketball, Logan trains 5-6 hours per day and has learned over the years how best to manage his blood sugar for practices and games. He prefers insulin injections to a pump, and takes advantage of timeouts and half-time to check his BG. His parents continue to help him during games when possible so he can stay focused, but for the most part he now monitors it himself.
Stacey says she is inspired and amazed by Logan every day. She knows his experience and dedication as a T1D athlete has equipped him to overcome any setback in life – on or off the court.

Written by Amy Gallagher