A St. Tim’s High School student who wrestles with diabetes says she wants to prove that living with a chronic disease doesn’t need to stop people from staying active.
“I feel like I could be somebody that inspires people with diabetes,” said 15-year-old wrestler Danika Cook. “Instead of sitting on the couch … being athletic will help you more.”
Cook, who is in Grade 10, was diagnosed as a tween with Type 1 Diabetes – meaning she must keep a close eye on her blood sugar levels because her body doesn’t have the ability to properly regulate them on its own. High blood sugar levels can damage organs, blood vessels and nerves, and low blood sugar can cause dizziness, blurred vision and anxiety.
The teenager injects herself with insulin and watches her levels throughout each day to maintain a healthy blood sugar level.
Despite her diagnosis, Cook took up wrestling three years ago. It’s a family affair, since all seven of her siblings are wrestlers – including her brother Charles, who medalled nationally in high school and currently wrestles with the University of Calgary Dinos.
“I guess there’s just something that’s in my blood,” she said. “Since Day One, I loved the sport.”
As a member of the St. Tim’s Thunder, Cook went undefeated in the 42-kilogram category throughout her Grades 7 and 8 years. In Grade 9, she earned a gold medal at the Alberta Winter Games in Medicine Hat. Today, in Grade 10, Cook wrestles three times a week with the St. Tim’s squad, both at the high school and with the Cochrane Cowboys Wrestling Club.
She lost the first match of her wrestling career in December at a regional tournament against a Team Canada-level athlete.
“I was actually pretty proud of myself,” said Cook of the matchup. “I’m small, I’m compact, I’m fast and I’m strong.”
Coach Andy Macri said Cook is a powerhouse of a competitor who doesn’t let anything stand in her way – including her medical condition.
“She takes it one day at a time and it doesn’t hold her back. She’s got goals … she just goes about her business and doesn’t let it bother her,” Macri said. “She’s been with it since Grade 7 and she’s tough ... Nobody’s going to lay down for you in wrestling.”
Cook knows that full well, and doesn’t want anyone to offer up special treatment because of her diabetes. She carefully monitors her food intake before matches and doesn’t overexert herself if she starts to feel the effects of her disease while training.
“If my blood sugar’s low … I just kind of stop, check my sugars, take some juice,” she said, adding when she’s actually in the ring – she is able to focus only on the sport she loves. “When it comes to wrestling, I forget about it all. You let it go.”
Cook’s wrestling calendar is full for the next couple of months, as she and the rest of her team traveled to Edmonton last Friday for the 2017 University of Alberta Golden Bears invitational and the Churchill Classic in Calgary this weekend.
Alberta Amateur Wrestling Association City Championships take place March 1 and 2, with provincials also on the horizon March 10 and 11.
“I think she’s got a really good chance for a medal,” said Macri. “She’s got a lot of experience. It’s a big part of her life.”
