'Super Sam' empowers youths

Add another legend to Sam Fuld's legacy.

The Tampa Bay Rays outfielder captivated fans last season with dazzling catches and clutch hits. His highlight plays caused Tribune sports columnists to deem him "The Legend."

But on Saturday, it was "Super Sam's" life as a person with Type 1 diabetes that mesmerized 100 local children living with the condition.

Fuld, 30, said his success, and the careers of other athletes with Type 1 diabetes he recruited to help coach, sent an important message to campers at the inaugural Sam Fuld Diabetes Sports Camp at the University of South Florida athletic complex.

"Type 1 diabetics can do whatever they want," said Fuld.

At first glance, the camp appeared to be all about sports. But the baseball, tennis, soccer, football and basketball drills took place alongside regular blood sugar tests for kids and coaches alike.

"You have all these coaches as role models because they're Type 1 diabetics," Fuld said. "But they're also elite athletes at the college level and professional level."

Granola bars, peanut butter crackers and juice were plentiful at every station to help participants add carbohydrates and sugars needed to maintain normal glucose levels. And medical staff from the USF Diabetes Center remained nearby if campers or coaches felt dizzy or needed more serious attention.

Lew Finnegan, a former professional basketball player in Germany, told campers that he created a detailed game day routine that included certain foods, a nap and regular monitoring of his blood sugar. Without it, he wouldn't have been able to get a college scholarship or play in Europe.

"You're at your best when you are ready to play," said Finnegan, 26. "Low blood sugar is not an excuse."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates nearly 16,000 American children a year are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. The disease requires people to take insulin to control blood sugar levels.

About half of the campers, and a few of the coaches, wear insulin pumps. Others, including Fuld, carry insulin injection pens. Diabetics who regularly balance their food intake and physical activity can remain at the top of their games, said Henry Rodriguez, medical director for the USF Diabetes Center.

"They can be phenomenal athletes," he said. "They shouldn't be judged differently from anyone else."

Fuld, who returns to the Rays this season under a one-year contract, said he was 12 when he met Major League Baseball pitcher Bill Gullickson, also a Type 1 diabetic. That two-minute conversation wasn't meaningful, but it was the inspiration he needed.

"It gave me more motivation to prove them wrong," said Fuld, who joked that his short stature of 5 feet 10 inches was a bigger impediment.

He said baseball, with no time clock, can be difficult for diabetics trying to maintain their energy levels. In high school and college, Fuld carried snack foods with his baseball gear, which he continues to do today when he's off the field.

Jeremy Eagle, a senior baseball player at St. Petersburg's Gibbs High, is vying to play at the college level. Meeting Fuld might prove to be the motivation he needs.

"I know whether I have diabetes or not," he said, "there's nothing I can't do."