Jay Cutler is prepared to be better in 2008, now that he finally knows he has Type 1 diabetes.

Cutler was feeling so poorly before being diagnosed in April that it was somewhat of a relief to find out what was wrong. He knows it is a serious condition but he is ready to make the off-field changes necessary to help him in his career.

"It's not going to change me on the field," Cutler said. "I'll make some lifestyle changes but I'll probably be a better quarterback this year than I was last year."

Last year, in October, Cutler started to lose weight. He started the season at 238 pounds but played the season finale at 203. During a quick conversation with the Broncos' training staff, they wondered if the grind of the season was the problem.

"I kind of figured it was that," Cutler said. "My first year starting, it's a long season."

He said since being diagnosed he has started to gain back weight quickly. He was up to 220 pounds by the end of April. He said he feels much better since being on insulin. Although his numbers didn't drop in November and December, he said he didn't feel well and couldn't make all the throws he was used to.

"I was able to go out and perform, I just wasn't that energetic," Cutler said.

One of Cutler's biggest challenges as a diabetic playing in the NFL will be monitoring his situation closely. Many athletes have played with diabetes, including former NFL offensive lineman Jay Leeuwenburg. Leeuwenburg said one of Cutler's biggest challenges will be to figure out how different circumstances affect his diabetes and react accordingly.

"It will affect him," Leeuwenburg said. "It depends on what he has in place to make it less impactful."

Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.