The University of Mount Union has two student-athletes who have overcome adversity in their lives by managing Type 1 Diabetes. Tess Conroy, a junior from Valley View, Ohio, graduated from Cuyahoga Heights High School and plays basketball for the Purple Raiders' women's team. Emma Reemsnyder, a sophomore from Canton, Ohio, attended Glen Oak High School and plays softball for the Purple Raiders.
 
Both athletes began playing their respective sports at a young age. Conroy has played basketball her entire life, starting organized play around the age of five. She formed a strong bond with her first AAU team, which consistently performed well together and connected both on and off the court. They remain close friends to this day, and they played a big part in her love for the game.
 
Reemsnyder began playing softball at the age of five and became a pitcher when she was eight, a position she continues to play at Mount Union. She played travel ball with a great group of girls and fell in love with the game. From that point on, softball became a part of her everyday life.
 
Conroy was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 16 while a junior in high school, and Reemsnyder was diagnosed at 11 while in sixth grade.
 
"I wasn't diagnosed until I was 16," said Conroy. "I was a junior in high school, and I was diagnosed midseason. I was actually diagnosed today (the day of the interview) four years ago. We were in the middle of our season, we had no seniors, and I was our junior captain and leading scorer. 
 
"Luckily, I didn't miss a game, but I went into the hospital Sunday night. I was in the ICU Sunday night into Monday, then into Tuesday morning, and under observation from Tuesday to Wednesday. They rushed my education, and I convinced them to let me leave on Wednesday so I could play in our conference championship game that night.
 
"It wasn't my best game. Things were a lot different—just managing my blood sugar and trying to control it when there are so many other factors affecting it that you don't even know about, especially when you were diagnosed four days earlier. It was also the first time I was really out of bed because I was very, very sick. I was only a couple hours away from a coma when I was diagnosed, so that was pretty rough." 
 
As for Reemsnyder's experience with being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes: 
 
"I was diagnosed in sixth grade when I was 11, which is kind of ironic," Reemsnyder said. "I was diagnosed on a Thursday, and I had a travel tournament that weekend. I did play, but it was a lot different. I suddenly had a bunch of new things I had to do, like taking insulin and checking my blood sugar, so it was a big change for both my team and me." 
 
Being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes was a significant change for both of them. It disrupted the routine they were accustomed to and added new challenges. However, they both overcame this with the support of their family, friends, and teammates, who were there for them throughout the transition. They serve as great examples of overcoming adversity with confidence and strength.
 
"I tried to have a positive outlook, especially because I wanted to play in that game on Wednesday when I was diagnosed, but I'm super lucky—my friends are so supportive," said Conroy. "I remember when I got back to school that day, they were all in class and I came in late, and suddenly I looked around and they were all standing there. I was like, 'How do you guys even know I'm here?' But they all have my location. 
 
"There were definitely times, especially my freshman year, when I'd get on the line and think, 'I don't know if I can finish this practice.' You do doubt yourself, but having teammates and friends who ask, 'Are you okay?' means so much more than anyone knows." 
 
For Reemsnyder, the support of her mother really helped her remember that it doesn't change who she is and that she can do anything she puts her mind to.
 
"I remember when I was in the hospital with my first nurse, I told her, 'My friends aren't going to like me anymore because I have diabetes.' But that wasn't true at all," Reemsnyder said. "All my friends are super supportive and always make sure I'm okay. When my pod beeps, they'll ask, 'Are you low? Are you okay?' 
 
"My mom always reminded me, 'You can do anything. You're still a normal kid. Diabetes isn't stopping you from doing anything.' She's my biggest supporter, and that really helped me." 
 
Regarding gameday management, both must monitor their Type 1 diabetes before, during, and after games to ensure they compete at the highest level with appropriate sugar levels. 
 
Conroy has to manage her practice and game day preparations, as they are quite different due to the constant high-paced movement during games. For practice, she needs to eat about two hours before her sessions, but not any closer than that. On game day, however, she must eat four hours before the game to ensure her blood sugar stabilizes in time. She also drinks a lot of Hoist, an electrolyte drink. Her trainer, Jackie, does an outstanding job, and Conroy tells her every day that she saves her life. Timing is crucial, and understanding which foods to eat and how much to account for is the biggest challenge.
 
Reemsnyder and her doctor created an activity plan through her pod to help manage her blood sugar, aiming to keep it above 150. However, this doesn't always work perfectly. She usually eats about an hour before practice and games, trying to limit her carbohydrate intake while still consuming enough to stabilize her blood sugar levels. Her trainer, Rachel, has been amazing, helping her discover good food options to eat before games and practices. Additionally, she drinks a lot of hoist, which doesn't contain much sugar but is high in potassium, providing her with the energy she needs during games without relying on candy.
 
The management of workouts and practices is different for Conroy. Workouts are generally easier to manage because she can start and stop them whenever she needs to. In contrast, practices can be trickier, especially early in the season. Overall, it's a day-to-day challenge. Sometimes, her blood sugar can feel unpredictable, but she successfully overcomes each obstacle that crosses her path.
 
For Reemsnyder, pitching requires a lot of energy due to the full motion involved in throwing numerous pitches. To help stabilize her blood sugar, she eats a little bit of sugar after each inning. However, this doesn't always work. There are also times when her blood sugar remains high during games, which affects her performance. On other occasions, she experiences low blood sugar and is unable to play. She feels nervous during games, regardless of her blood sugar levels, as the adrenaline raises her sugar, but then it drops again. It's all about managing her sugar levels, keeping them stable, and trying to pitch her best stuff.
 
Both Conroy and Reemsnyder have fantastic coaches who assist them in managing their blood sugar. Neither of these head coaches had previously worked with an athlete with type 1 diabetes, so it has been a learning experience for them as well. However, they have adapted to help manage it effectively. Suzy Venet, the head coach for the Purple Raiders women's basketball team, and Meghan Simmons, the head coach for the softball team, have both done an outstanding job supporting their respective student-athletes in managing their blood sugar. Professors on campus have done an excellent job being supportive and allowing Conroy and Reemsnyder to manage their blood sugar levels when needed.
 
"My coaches are super supportive, and Coach Venet has said she's never worked with a diabetic before," said Conroy. "At first, I was a little nervous, worried about sitting out of practice or not being able to participate, but that's never been held against me. She's super supportive when I'm there, and she knows that whatever I give is the best I can give on that day. 
 
"Academically, my professors are the same way. They always say if you put in the effort, they'll give it back. Being open and honest with them early in the semester has allowed for a lot of grace and understanding when it comes to managing blood sugar, being late, or whatever the situation may be. Having supportive coaches is definitely an important part, because without that, I can't say we'd be here." 
 
As for Reemsnyder:
 
"Coach Simmons told me she had never worked with a diabetic before," Reemsnyder said. "When I came in for my visit, she was like, 'Oh, I've never done this,' and it was kind of a learning process. But she's really supportive. If we have to run and I'm low, she'll say, 'No, you're not doing it,' even though I want to. They're all very supportive. 
 
"Even my professors are great—my pod has gone off in class, and it's not a big deal. I just do what I need to do. Having all my coaches be so supportive has really helped me manage diabetes while still competing."
 
Conroy and Reemsnyder have amazing stories, and both have a message for athletes with Type 1 Diabetes:
 
"I've had a lot of really cool experiences, like being able to speak at galas and being part of a big community," said Conroy. "I think the biggest thing is that, even through the frustration, you can't let it stop you. It's easy to throw in the towel and want to give up, but in the end, it's worth it. You'll build lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories if you stick with it and keep going." 
 
"I think it's just a really big community," Reemsnyder said. "I've made a lot of friendships from having diabetes—especially Tess (Conroy). Just keep going. It's just diabetes. It's part of our life, so don't let it stop you."
 
It's inspiring to share the stories of Tess Conroy and Emma Reemsnyder, who have not let their Type 1 diabetes hold them back. Instead, they have used their experiences to grow, overcome obstacles, and become even stronger and more resilient. Both are successful student-athletes on and off the court, and they have bright futures ahead of them.