Hunter Bryant isn't like most high school football players on the sidelines during games. The two-way player for Fellowship Christian may be seen munching on crackers, chewing on a granola bar, or gulping down a juice box.
There's a good reason behind it, though, as Bryant has Type-1 diabetes. The quick snacks boost Bryant's blood-sugar level when it is low.
"Hunter never complains about anything and just keeps pressing forward," Fellowship Christian coach Hunter Chadwick said. "He inspires all of us. He has got every excuse in the world to miss something or take the easy path, and he never does."
Bryant rotates at quarterback, wide receiver and outside linebacker for Fellowship Christian, the tiny Class A school in Roswell. With the Paladins' 24-man roster, Bryant rarely has time to come off the field for snacks. He also plays on all special teams.
Despite the diagnosis of diabetes, Bryant says he never thought about not playing football.
"I just love the game," Bryant said. "Playing high school football on Friday nights under the lights is something I have been dreaming about since I was five years old. I've never given up on that dream, not once."
Fellowship Christian's coaches weren't aware of Bryant's medical condition until spring football practices in May. The team was in the middle of drills when Bryant informed the coaches he was a little dizzy and needed to go inside to check his blood.
By the time Bryant had finished, his teammates were headed back inside to lift weights. Bryant walked right past them to return to the field. Chadwick wondered what was going on.
"He looked at me and said ‘Coach, I've got to go finish everything that I missed,'" Chadwick recalled. "The typical kid would be like ‘Everybody is done, so I'm going to come on in and start where my teammates are now.' Hunter is not that way. It's amazing."
The 6-foot-1, 165-pound Bryant says his parents were stunned when he was diagnosed with diabetes five years ago because there was no family history of the disease. Bryant was only 9 years old and didn't understand the diagnosis. He just was determined not to let it prevent him from playing sports.
"He turned a negative into a positive," said his father, Kevin Bryant. "I think it has motivated him to do it all. He doesn't want to be left out on anything, ever."
Hunter Bryant says he doesn't dwell on the diabetes. "I'm not angry about it. It's my way of life now. I just deal with it."
Dealing with the life-threatening disease can be complicated for anyone, especially a 14-year-old. Bryant carries around a kit with his medical supplies, including insulin, syringes, test strips and a glucose meter.
Bryant monitors his physical condition throughout the day and can almost instantly feel when his blood-sugar level is rising or falling. At least four to six times daily, Bryant gives himself a shot of insulin.
Treating the diabetes would be easier if Bryant wore an insulin pump -- but he won't because he plays sports on a year-round basis, including basketball and baseball.
"So many new kids are being diagnosed [with diabetes] every day, and they will call us with questions," said his mother, Kelly Bryant. "We tell them just because they have this horrific illness, there is nothing they can't achieve. They can still play sports and do other things -- they just have to do it a little differently than everybody else."
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