North Carolina teen with diabetes wins wrestling state championship

Doctors said Benjamin Bullins wouldn’t be able to play sports after he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 2. On But Saturday, the teen won the North Carolina duel wrestling championship in the 3A division with his teammates from John Motley Morehead High School, Fox8 reported.

“I’ve always had a passion for wrestling,” Bullins told Fox8. He also plays football, baseball and maintains a 4.4 GPA.

In 2014, the Eden, North Carolina, teen won the state’s individual championship for wrestling, and he was named wrestler of the year at the Mid-State Conference.

Bullins has had his struggles with diabetes, needing to go to the hospital for shots often. He checks his blood sugar eight to 10 times and gives himself six insulin shots every day.

"I do it in between matches," Bullins told the news channel. "I'll check while people go get water or something like that."

He’s had a few close calls when his blood sugar dips or gets too high.

"I feel really heavy,” he told Fox8. “I get exhausted really quickly. I can hardly breathe."

After his son was diagnosed, Abner Bullins was determined to give him a normal life, and, to this day, he watches every match closely, keeping Gatorade, candy bars and snacks nearby.

According to Bullins, diabetes has helped him reach his goals.

"I push myself as much as I can,” he told Fox8. “And, I would recommend everybody does that no matter what they have."

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