Wrestler uses head to control diabetes

For the better part of two wrestling seasons, Jimmy Martin was on the mat, trying to get a reversal on his constant opponent: diabetes.

Diabetic and insulin-dependent since early childhood, the East Valley wrestler struggled as a freshman and sophomore to balance his blood sugar level with the demands of his winter sport.

“I kept thinking that I needed to cut weight, to get down to a lower class to wrestle my best,” the junior explained. “Between trying to drop weight and the daily workouts, my blood sugar was way off, and I just never got a handle on it.”

Diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system turns against the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, preventing the body from producing insulin. Insulin is the hormone that regulates the body’s ability to utilize glucose, or blood sugar.

Exercise is a cornerstone for the treatment of diabetes. However, for a Type 1 diabetic like Martin, it can make for a complicated balancing act that varies from individual to individual. An intense workout, such as a daily wrestling practice session, can have a dramatic effect on blood sugar levels.

In Martin’s case, the added stress of dieting to lose weight, coupled with swings in blood sugar levels, developed diabetic ketoacidosis – a potentially serious complication.

This season Martin has dropped any pretense of dropping weight. In fact, he routinely gives up 10 to 15 pounds to his opponents at 215.

Over the summer he earned All-America status by placing eighth at the national freestyle championships. Earlier this month he placed sixth at the prestigious Tri-State Tournament at North Idaho College.

“I was actually disappointed with my performance at Tri-State,” Martin admitted. “A guy I should have beaten made it all the way to the finals. I should have placed a lot higher than I did.”

His coach agreed.

“If you just look at his high school accomplishments, you’d be surprised to see Jimmy place like that at Tri-State,” East Valley coach Craig Hanson said. “I’ve coached Jimmy since he was just a little kid, and he’s had a lot of success as a freestyler.

“He just got thrown off by his diabetes his first couple of years.”

This year, Martin has learned to manage his blood sugar. Testing frequently, he discovered that starting practice with his blood glucose level a tad high allows him to get through a workout without going into hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Martin’s confidence got a boost as a sophomore, when he went from being a third-string offensive guard to starting by the end of the regular season and through the playoffs. This season he earned second-team All-Greater Spokane League honors.

Those improving football skills come in handy at 215 pounds, where balance and upper-body strength are critical to success.

“I’ve always been strong in the upper body, and I like getting in there and butting heads,” Martin said. “I’m a little weird that way, and I come away a little bloody sometimes, but I like it.”

Martin said wrestling above his actual body weight comes in handy during a major tournament like Tri-State.

“You have to weigh in each day at a two-day tournament, and for guys who are always fighting to make weight, (they) have to be careful during each day not to take in too much food,” he explained. “If they eat too much or drink too much, they’ll have trouble making weight the next day.

“That’s why you’ll see some guys fade at the end of the day.

“But because I don’t have to worry about making weight, I can keep my body nourished and hydrated. And I can keep my blood sugar levels under control.”

One of Martin’s heroes as a young wrestler was Gonzaga Prep standout Travis Pascoe, who won Washington state championships at 168, 190 and 189 pounds for the Bullpups, posting a 138-8 record before going on to achieve All-America status as a 184-pounder at the University of Nebraska.

Pascoe, now a first-year assistant coach at Fresno State University, is diabetic.

“I only met him a couple of times,” Martin said. “But I knew that if he could wrestle and be successful, I could, too. We’re pretty close to the same weight, and from what I’ve been told, he always wrestled at his actual weight and never tried to drop weight, too.”

Now, as more and more people learn of his diabetes, Martin finds himself a role model for other youngsters looking to compete.

“It helped me to know that there were other athletes out there with diabetes,” he said. “I followed Adam Morrison, but basketball and wrestling are two different sports.

“That’s why knowing that someone like Travis was competing and being successful inspired me.

“I just want people to know that you can do anything you want if you’re a diabetic. You just have to make sure you’re taking care of it.

“It’s not a limitation. It’s just another challenge you have to deal with.”