Are there many diabetic umpires?

[His High Holiness]

Yes, As a long time assignor, I had to become familiar with the medical conditions of my umpires. I would estimate that between five and ten percent were diabetic. A couple of them did D1 ball.

Diabetes cost one of them his leg and at a least one has died. Others have been forced into retirement by the disease. Standing on your feet in freezing weather when you have poor circulation in your feet is not the best thing in the world. Being out in 90+ degree weather is likewise not healthy when one has sugar problems.

These umpires decided that having fun was more important that good health. However, I am not an expert on the subject. I am sure that there are ways to umpire and still manage the disease but a doctor would be the best one to consult.

Scheduled meals of fixed sizes is extremely important for diabeitcs. Umpiring at high levels does not lend itself to this.

Peter