Needles And Pins Diabetes No Match For Determined Pascoe

(From Replay, February 6, 1998): A story about wrestler Travis Pascoe in Thursday’s editions incorrectly said his father, Lee, has Type I diabetes.

Gonzaga Prep wrestler Travis Pascoe learned a harsh truth on the mat last month. Diabetes can be a more difficult opponent than any human foe.

Pascoe, who has the disease, was in the middle of a match at a University High tournament when his body shut down.

“All of a sudden I couldn’t move at all,” he said. “I was really tired. My grip went dead.”

Pascoe not only discovered how the disease can complicate an athlete’s life, but his family also dealt with a frightening experience.

Recalled his father, Lee: “The hardest thing I (previously) had to accept was watching him give himself a shot. Now it doesn’t bother me. But it did the night he crashed on the mat.”

Travis experienced a reaction brought on by low blood sugar, caused by too much exercise and insulin, and too little food.

He was forced to default the match, only his second loss in 26 contests this year.

Since no one involved knew much about what had occurred, confusion reigned. Lee said that the referee questioned that his son was diabetic.

“I told him the match was over,” said Lee. “There was no issue on our part.”

His health, added his mother Julie, came first.

There would be more opportunities to build on an impressive career.

Pascoe, a sophomore, begins his quest for state this weekend in the District 8 tournament at Mt. Spokane High. He’s ranked first in his age group nationally by USA Wrestling magazine and fifth among all freestyle junior wrestlers in his weight class.

But it was just last March he was diagnosed, after his freshman season at Lakeland High School that included a second-place finish in the Idaho State tournament at 145 pounds.

Lee has Type I diabetes. It occurs when the pancreas gland, which produces insulin, ceases to function. Without insulin the body can no longer process blood glucose into the cells, necessary for growth and energy.

It spills instead from the blood stream into the urinary system and out of the body.

Left untreated, the symptoms will lead to physical complications, coma and ultimately, death.

“There was no history of it in our family,” said Julie. “He was going to the bathroom all the time and had some blurred vision and back pain. It set me thinking it was a bladder infection.”

Rather than fear the consequences and retreat into a shell, Pascoe tackled it with the same fervor that he does wrestling.

“When my doctor told me that exercise is one of the best ways to control diabetes,” said Pascoe, “I thought, ‘wow, that’s great for me.”’

Insulin injections help the body to control blood sugar levels. The pricking of his finger to test his blood sugar and the shots Pascoe gives himself twice daily have become second nature.

“I’ve never gotten to the point where I don’t want to take a shot. Actually I kind of find it fun,” he said. “It’s repetition, just like wrestling practice.”

Having wrestled since age 4, Pascoe had always been aware of the need for fitness and good eating habits. His only concession to the disease is that he does not cut weight.

He wrestled this year at 168 pounds, deferring to teammate and state-placer Nick Bliss at 158. It hasn’t prevented him from being the district’s No. 1 seed at his chosen weight.

“I consider it an advantage,” he said. “I have all my energy. Some guys weigh in after cutting weight all day and are tired before a match.”

The Pascoe family is immersed in wrestling. Lee is president of the Rathdrum freestyle club and is North Idaho state representative for the sport.

Eldest son Jeremy, who overcame difficulties with drugs and alcohol, was a two-time state runner-up at Lakeland and became a three-time collegiate All-American at North Idaho College and South Dakota State.

Nathan, who graduated last year, won two consecutive Idaho state titles. He is redshirting at South Dakota State where Jeremy coaches.

Their parents say neither could have dealt with diabetes as maturely as has Travis.

Despite the setback, he is ahead of them at this point in his career, the first of the brothers to reach the state finals as a freshman.

He was a week away from traveling to the Cadet national championships when he learned of his disease. His parents almost didn’t let him go.

“First thing we did was have a heart-to-heart about whether he should go,” said Julie. “It was hard on mom.”

Carla Gentry, a Coeur d’Alene registered nurse and diabetes education specialist, told him to make the trip and Travis finished second, with no complications.

The Pascoes credit Gentry with easing their concerns about the disease and assuring them that Travis could continue participating in athletics.

Diabetes, she said, is an isolating experience that can result in low self-esteem by the individual and overprotection by parents who fear the worst.

“I think activity is invaluable,” said Gentry, who hears the same message from endocrinologists at workshops. “Every time I see a newly diagnosed diabetic I encourage sports.”

Pascoe, while limiting his passion for ice cream, is pursuing his dreams as if the diabetes had never occurred.

“Right now it’s going to a state tourney,” he said. “I want to make sure I go to a Division I school to have a chance of becoming an NCAA national champion. I want to get my degree.”

He encourages others with diabetes to become as active in some way as he. Julie concurs.

“I think it is important for people with diabetes to know they can still excel,” says his mother.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: DIABETES FACTS National statistics indicate that 15.7 million people have one of four types of diabetes. Most prevalent is Type II, non-insulin dependent usually, affecting older and overweight people. Rarer is insulin-dependent Type I, formerly known as juvenile diabetes. Fewer than 10 percent of all diabetics have Type I and 0.16 percent of those are under 20.