education on 6

Identical Twin Football Players Fight Type 1 Diabetes

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

The Holsinger brothers are instantly recognizable on the St. Thomas University campus in Miami Gardens.

Being identical twins who play on the football team will get you noticed.

Noah plays defensive back, Harrison plays quarterback.

"We're always checking up on each other, did you do this, make sure you do that," Harrison said.

They say twins have a special bond, with many of the same likes and dislikes.

"We're both pretty into cars, we both really like cars," Harrison said.

"We actually love the show 'Friends,'" Noah replied.

They also have something else in common: Type 1 diabetes.

"Athletes already have a stressful life without having Type 1 diabetes and it's just another thought that's going through your head," said Harrison.

The brothers have insulin pumps and monitors which constantly feed blood sugar levels to their phones.

"You can't complain about it and say oh, I don't want to take care of it because you have to, there's no other choice but to just take care of yourself and act like it's not even there," Noah said.

So while they're in class, on the practice field, or in the weight room, the twins keep one eye on the ball and another on their sugar levels. That's their play, all day, every day.

"I really hope some people see that, what we're doing, and realize that anything is possible, they should not let diabetes hold them back, as long as they're on top of it, maintaining it, there's really nothing they can't do," said Harrison.

The brothers want to be role models for diabetic kids. They recently helped raise $10,000 for diabetes research, and just by being normal

"'Cause we are just like everybody else, it doesn't make us different, we're not the weird ones in the group, so raising awareness is definitely important, too," Noah explained.

The Holsinger twins are part of a brand-new football program which just finished its first season. The head coach says they're foundational players.

"It's exactly what you're looking for," said coach Bill Rychel. "Guys that take responsibility for their lives and they're great citizens and great students and role models that if you can create that culture as you start a program, it's worth its weight in diamonds."

They've got a whole team for support now.

The twins can lean on each other as they fight diabetes for the rest of their lives.

Contact Us