There is no question that committing to a college level team is a challenge, but balancing school work and a social life on the side is even harder. Between the difficult practices/games and maintaining a positive image by making appearances, it takes a very determined individual to take on the role of a college athlete. For some, it feels similar to a full time job and takes an extreme amount of dedication. I once had the chance to sit down and talk to a top recruit for college basketball.
Actually, I did more than just sit down and talk… I created an 11-minute documentary about her.
Not just because this specific individual is a talented athlete and recipient of numerous national awards, but also because of her inspirational story. Lauren Cox is a 6’4” college basketball player that was the number one women’s basketball recruit in the national back in high school. At Flower Mound High School, she dominated the court by averaging 21 points per game and still remained unstoppable when dealing with type 1 diabetes.
Lauren was diagnosed at the young age of seven. Between changing her diet to questioning how it will ultimately affect her as an athlete, it was a challenge in the beginning. As an active individual participating in sports such as volleyball, basketball, soccer, and even jogs with her dad, it was not an easy adjustment at first. However, Lauren listened to her doctor and payed attention to warning signs in order to control her blood sugar levels and avoid the potential side effects of type 1 diabetes. If left untreated, one may experience fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, and even numbness throughout the body. More serious side effects include nerve, heart, and kidney damage. Diabetes must be properly treated at all times and can result in immediate medical attention if glucose levels get too high or too low.
Until I talked to Lauren’s endocrinologist, Dr. Grace Tannin, I never truly understood what all diabetes entails. Dr. Tannin told me the importance of Lauren taking proper health precaution before her basketball games. She does keep her levels in check, but there have been a few scares on the court. Aside from having to sit out on a few high school games, Lauren revealed that there have been a few times that her memory of playing was a bit foggy due to changes in her sugar levels. As scary as these moments are for Lauren, she continues to maintain a strong work-ethic on the court. Her dedication shines through multiple achievements such as three world championship gold medals and even Twitter recognition from the king of basketball himself -- LeBron James.
Lauren does not let type 1 diabetes define her as an individual. Instead, she shows people from all over the world that anything is possible no matter what restriction seems to be in the way. She will proceed to be the epitome of a role model as she takes her talents to Baylor University. Lauren will be a freshman in the fall and will without a doubt leave a lasting legacy as she continues to strive for greatness.
