The Olympic tennis champion is setting up a foundation to support those affected. He wanted to show “that you can make it very far with this disease”.
Tennis Olympic champion Alexander Zverev has made his longstanding diabetes public. At the age of four, the native of Hamburg was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. “As a little boy I didn’t think about it much, later more and more. I want to show that you can make it very far with this disease,” said Zverev and at the same time announced the founding of his foundation “Alexander Zverev Foundation – Serve against diabetes”.
“Now, many years later and with the success behind me, I feel comfortable and confident enough to go public with this initiative,” the athlete continued. He wants to be a role model for people who are already ill, but also a support for the children “who can still avoid getting diabetes with an active life and the right prevention”.
“Helping others affected on their way”
In addition to providing insulin and other essential medicines, his foundation is intended to finance projects for affected children and young people. “I’m in the privileged situation of leading a life that I always wanted to lead,” said Zverev. He is aware that not all children are so lucky and that is why it is “very important to him to give something back and to help other affected people on their way”.
Diabetes is a metabolic disease, which means that the body can hardly or no longer produce any insulin. Type 1, as with Zverev, has not yet been cured, so those affected have to inject insulin for the rest of their lives.
The 25-year-old Zverev is currently working on his comeback after a serious ligament injury in rehab.