When Frederick Yap first joined Falcon Knight United FC in 2022, his coach did not see Type 1 diabetes.
He saw a cheerful, positive child who was relentless when chasing the ball.
He saw a good defensive player.
“Honestly, it was a surprise to me, as Frederick is always the most energetic one,” said the coach.
That surprise matters.
Type 1 diabetes is not caused by diet or lifestyle. It is not preventable, and there is currently no cure. Children living with the condition need insulin to survive, but managing it goes far beyond injections.
Every day, families have to monitor blood glucose levels, count carbohydrates, calculate insulin doses, adjust for meals and physical activity, and stay alert for emergencies.
On a football pitch, that means the adults around a child need to know when something is not right.
“We have adjusted to have more awareness and attention to Frederick’s behaviour,” the coach said.
He now watches not just Frederick’s movement on the field, but also his expression and behaviour. A sudden change could mean that Frederick’s blood sugar is too low or too high, and that he needs attention.
That is not the same as treating him as fragile.
Frederick’s parents do not want him to be pitied. They want him to be accepted, supported and allowed to participate like other children.
This is where the coach’s role becomes important.
A child who needs water, food, a glucose check, insulin, or a short rest is not being difficult. He may simply be doing what is necessary to stay safe.
A child who suddenly looks tired, emotional or less focused may not be misbehaving. His blood sugar may be out of range.
A child who needs water, food, or a short rest is not being difficult. He may just need help to return safely.
The need for awareness goes beyond one football team. In a paper prepared by Frederick’s mother and shared with me, she noted that children with T1D can face challenges in school because many educators remain unfamiliar with the condition.
This can lead to misunderstandings during low-blood-sugar episodes, or restrictions on essential self-care activities such as eating, drinking water, checking blood glucose or taking insulin.
The same awareness is needed in sports clubs.
Children do not leave Type 1 diabetes at home when they go to school, tuition, football training or a tournament. Their condition follows them into every classroom, field and changing room.
At Hospital Sultanah Aminah in Johor Bahru alone, about 70 children and adolescents are being followed for Type 1 diabetes care. That number may sound small, but for each family, the responsibility is constant.
The financial burden is also heavy. The paper noted that an insulin pump can cost about RM30,000, while CGM systems may cost anywhere from RM600 to RM2,500 a month, depending on the system and supplies used.
Technology can help. But awareness still matters.
A sensor can alert a family. A parent can carry supplies. A child can learn to speak up.
But in the moment, the adult standing closest to the child — a teacher, coach, trainer or organiser — may be the person who notices first.
That is why Frederick’s coach supports more awareness and training.
He has also worked with players with autism and severe attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
“We have always given our best, because football is for everybody,” he said.
For this coach, inclusion is not a slogan. It is something that happens in small decisions.
Letting a parent step in when needed.
Watching a child more closely without embarrassing him.
Understanding that support is not special treatment.
Allowing a child to pause, recover and return.
Frederick’s story is not only about football. It is about what happens when the adults around a child are willing to learn.
His coach did not know at first.
Then he watched Frederick play.
And now he watches differently.
Not with pity. With awareness.
That may be the first step towards making more schools, clubs and community spaces safer for children living with Type 1 diabetes.
Because childhood should not stop at diagnosis.
And football, as the coach said, is for everybody.
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