DETROIT – Before Tigers relief pitcher Mark Lowe throws a pitch, before he goes to the bullpen, before he even leaves the house, he does something that can save his life.
"This is my Glucometer, I carry it with me everywhere," he said.
Lowe has Type 1 diabetes. He checks his blood sugar levels eight to 10 times per day. He was diagnosed with the disease in 2007 during a routine physical in the middle of spring training with the Marlins.
"It was a shot in the gut to know that the rest of your life that’s a battle you will have to deal with every single day," Lowe said.
It was a shock to him because diabetes does not run in his family.
Now his daily routine is a lot different than it was. On top of Insulin shots, he monitors everything he eats, which can be tough in a major league clubhouse, although his teammates are supportive.
"I make it a joke," he said. "They try to guess what my blood sugar is all the time."
Lowe knows how Type 1 diabetes changed his life, which is why he is so vocal about it, why he advocates for research, and why he invites kids to the ballpark all the time.
"I know for me as an adult, it’s hard to manage," he said. "I can’t imagine for children. I feel for them."
Lowe hopes he inspires kids out there to continue to chase their dreams. If a big league pitcher can manage Type 1 diabetes, so can they.
"Anything is possible, anything is feasible," he said. "Don’t let anything hold you back. That’s my message."
Lowe works closely with the JDRF organization, the leading organization funding Type 1 diabetes research.
On Sept. 25 in Milliken State Park is the JDRF One Walk, a 1.2-mile walk along the Detroit Riverfront to benefit research. They hope to raise nearly $1 million.
Click here to sign up.