Bears quarterback Jay Cutler tells his diabetes story in new web videos on chicagobears.com

Rising star reveals emotions around diagnosis and how he's managing diabetes in the NFL CHICAGO ...  More »

Rising star reveals emotions around diagnosis and how he's managing diabetes in the NFL CHICAGO - As NFL quarterback Jay Cutler fought through illness during the 2007 season - constantly fatigued, losing 35 pounds, in what was later diagnosed as type 1 diabetes - he thought he might be dying. That's one of the revelations we hear from the Pro Bowl quarterback in a series of new Web videos about his life with diabetes, launched today on www.chicagobears.com. The videos are also available at www.touchdownsfordiabetes.com and www.jaycutlersix.com. Produced by Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly), a worldwide leader in diabetes research, the "Jay Cutler on Diabetes" webisode series takes us inside Cutler's life with diabetes on and off the field. Episodes 1-3 were released today in conjunction with the Chicago Bears. The videos are part of Cutler's work with Lilly on the Touchdowns for Diabetes camp scholarship program (www.touchdownsfordiabetes.com). Future episodes will be launched in November during American Diabetes Month and will focus on Cutler's efforts to connect with kids and families affected by diabetes. Lilly's award-winning documentary film crew began shooting the videos in January, when Cutler and Lilly kicked off their national offseason tour of children's hospitals. In the episodes released today, Cutler describes being sick but not knowing what was wrong as he played through his first season as a starting quarterback in the NFL (then with the Denver Broncos). "I kept it a secret for a while - obviously a lot longer than I should have," Cutler says in the videos. "I thought it was something I was just going to bounce back from. A part of me just didn't want to know...I didn't know if I was going to continue to be able to play football." Cutler also talks about how he learned to manage the disease while becoming an elite NFL quarterback - and how he wants to connect with kids. "It's there every day, no matter where you go. You wake up with it, you go to sleep with it. Over time, you get used to it, and it becomes part of you. I'm not to that point yet," he says. "I'd like to use my story to be able to inspire kids that get diabetes. They think it's the end of the world, they think can't have dreams, do what they want to do. But that's entirely false." To view Episodes 1-3 of the "Jay Cutler on Diabetes" series, visit www.chicagobears.com, www.touchdownsfordiabetes.com or www.jaycutlersix.com. About Touchdowns for Diabetes For every touchdown pass Cutler throws during the 2009 season, Lilly will send a child to diabetes camp by donating $1,000 to the American Diabetes Association's "Camp Scholarship" fund - roughly the cost of allowing one child to attend a week of diabetes camp - through the Touchdowns for Diabetes program. And for every pass Cutler completes in 2009, Lilly will donate $100 to the ADA Camp Scholarship fund to allow even more kids the chance to attend camp next summer. The ADA is the largest provider of diabetes camps in the world and is serving as the national champion for Touchdowns for Diabetes. Through the Bears' first four games, Cutler has thrown eight touchdown passes, run for another TD and completed 83 passes - already sending 17 kids to camp next summer. For more information on diabetes camps, visit the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org/camp or the Diabetes and Education Camping Association at www.diabetescamps.org. About Lilly Diabetes For more than 85 years, Eli Lilly and Company has been a worldwide leader in pioneering industry-leading solutions to support people living with and treating diabetes. Lilly introduced the world's first commercial insulin in 1923, and remains at the forefront of medical and delivery device innovation to manage diabetes. Lilly is also committed to providing solutions beyond therapy - practical tools, education and support programs to help overcome barriers to success along the diabetes journey. At Lilly, the journey of each person living with or treating diabetes inspires ours. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com About Eli Lilly and Company Eli Lilly and Company, a leading innovation-driven company, is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information - for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com C-LLY  « Less