In a wide-ranging interview, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson told the Arizona republic's Kent Somers that he's a diabetic. But Peterson also was clear that he had little interest talking about the matter.
Here's how that portion of the Q&A with Peterson went:
Q: Coach [Bruce] Arians said in February that you had a blood sugar problem early in the season and that really affected you?
A: Yeah, it did. I'd rather not go into deep detail about that. It was a situation that it occurred during the season. The team docs found it and got it all under wraps.
Q: But it made a big difference?
A: No question it made a big difference and once they found out what the problem was, they put their hands around the throat, wrangled it and we moved forward from it.
Q: You said you didn't want to get into details but people hear that and wonder, "Is he diabetic?"
A: I am a diabetic. Let's just keep it that way.
Arians told Pro Football Talk at the Indianapolis Combine that Peterson was battling a blood-sugar issue and, as a result, struggled early last season. But once the team figured that out and managed it, Peterson was in good shape in a strong finish to the 2014 season.
Arians the condition then as being "borderline diabetic." On Tuesday, Peterson confirmed he was a diabetic.
What does that mean? Although there are not a ton of confirmed diabetics in the NFL, Jay Cutler is perhaps the most well-known one, and he has to manage his condition with blood-sugar checks mid-game and insulin shots at the ready. The New England Patriots cut defensive tackle Kyle Love two years ago when it was discovered he was a type-2 diabetic, which raised a little uproar around the league.
If Peterson is dilligent, he can manage his diabetes and should be able to perform at a high level. After all, there have been several world-class and famous athletes over the years who have had diabetes and been able to thrive without issue.
Whether or not Peterson becomes a spokesman for the disease is another matter, and he clearly isn't yet completely comfortable discussing the matter in great detail. But of primary importance now is him listening to his doctors and listening to his body, and Peterson should live a long, healthy life and continue to have a terrific NFL career.
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm
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