Leah Daley carries two bags with her on basketball gamedays that are full of essentials. One helps her shine as Whitman-Hanson's point guard and senior co-captain: sneakers, water bottle, uniform, etc. The other is for her new responsibilities as a Type 1 diabetic.
That bag contains a finger prick reader to check her blood sugar levels, as well as an insulin pen. Daley loads it up with fruit snacks and adds in candy; Skittles are easiest to count out carbohydrates. She patches onto her upper arm a Dexcom sensor that monitors her blood levels in real time, and she discreetly attaches an insulin pump near her stomach.
At first glance, it's hard to notice a difference. Daley is playing her best basketball ever, averaging 8.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists on the fourth-ranked Panthers. She's completing one of the more remarkable career arcs you'll find in high school, going from starting her first game as a freshman to a JV demotion and slowly climbing back to prominence on an MIAA championship contender. Daley is eager to talk about her diabetes. She loathes the idea of it affecting her effort level.
"I really, really hate to use my diabetes as an excuse," she said. "I don't like missing school because of appointments. I don't like doing any of that stuff. It's very aggravating to know that I have an excuse while others don't. I don't enjoy that."
