There was a time when the volleyball game was tense, the score was close with players running on adrenaline as much as they were on heart, and Kalani High School junior Chase Suzumoto would quickly and quietly step aside.

It's a big step to take, particularly for a go-to player on the court. Suzumoto has type 1 diabetes and if his blood sugar level dropped too low, he could lose coordination. If it were too high, he'd feel dehydrated and cramp up.

So he'll take a personal timeout, for his own sake and because he doesn't want his irresponsibility to impact the team.

"I constantly watch (my blood sugar level)," Suzumoto said. "I might hurt my teammates and myself. It's not fair to my team. I can ruin everything because I didn't take the test once."

Older and wiser, the 6-foot setter/outside hitter has taken more responsibility for his own health. Ten times a day, he'll test his blood sugar level, poking his finger with a needle to draw blood. He does it in the morning, at school, before and after practices and in the evening. Depending on the level, he'll drink juice, eat candy, take insulin or take a break.

The process takes five seconds. During a match, he said it "seems like a lifetime." Yet, he's fully aware of how his actions could impact those around him.

Playing with his club team two years ago at a national qualifier in California, Suzumoto didn't realize his blood sugar level was getting low. He served a ball that didn't reach the 10-foot line and he quickly subbed himself out. Nearly lost was a chance to go to nationals and the time and money invested into the trip.

"When I went low and I wanted to stay in and keep playing, I didn't want to stop and sit on the sides and have people wonder and talk about me," Suzumoto said. "My parents played a big part. They tell me everything is not about you ... keep playing and playing. You need to know when to stop and when to pull yourself on the side and test yourself. If you hurt someone else, you'll regret it even more."

According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, about 24 million Americans have diabetes and nearly 3 million have type 1 diabetes. It's estimated 5,000 Hawai'i residents have type 1 diabetes, commonly known as insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes because it's diagnosed during childhood. There is no cure for the autoimmune disease.

DIAGNOSED AT 5

Rod Suzumoto found it odd his 5-year-old son had flu-like symptoms and was throwing up despite drinking water all the time. It happened to be Diabetes Awareness Month, and he saw a television commercial that described warning signs of diabetes.

He asked Chase's pediatrician to look into it. The pediatrician said Chase's blood sugar level was high, and off they went to an endocrinologist, followed by a five-day stay at the hospital that nearly extended to Christmas.

It was a crash course in diabetes and nobody suspected the boy who was already involved in sports to be diabetic. Ninety percent of children with type 1 diabetes have no relatives with diabetes, according to the foundation. Chase's fraternal twin sister, Chelsea, is not diabetic.

"They said as parents, you'll know more about your son or daughter because everybody is different," Rod said. "From there on, it was a challenge. It's difficult giving a 5-year-old injections three to four times a day."

Rod saw his son, who gave himself insulin injections at age 5, trying to grasp being diabetic to being responsible for it. The family kept things in moderation and instill a sense of normalcy. When other kids had shave ice, Suzumoto's parents would get a plain one and pour Diet Coke over it.

Yet, there were nearly a dozen hospital stays and numerous times when the ambulance was called. Suzumoto also tried to hide the testing from classmates, afraid of what they perceived.

"Those weren't good times," Suzumoto said. "I was still little and getting used to it and didn't know how to adjust things. It made me scared of what I had to do in future."

Doctor visits helped him learn more about diabetes, as was communication and support from his family. It wasn't as though life had come to a complete halt. Watching University of Hawai'i volleyball matches steered him toward trying out the sport, which he and his sister did at age 9 in Pauoa. When it started to conflict with other sports, he stuck with volleyball.

A COACHABLE PLAYER

Kalani coach Daryl Tamashiro said Suzumoto brings knowledge, experience and a "desire for the team to do well." Suzumoto, who has a setting background, splits his time at setter and outside hitter in the Falcons' 6-2 offense.

"My parents said be coachable, which is the main thing," Suzumoto said. "If I'm coachable, I'm able to do whatever I can do. I can set and from setting, I can hit. I'm not the best at hitting, but it helps our team and I want to do what I can do to help everybody get better."

Added Tamashiro: "It's a responsibility that he has been living up to."

The Falcons are 2-2 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red East after beating Kaimuki and Moanalua on Saturday.

Over the summer, Suzumoto was the setter on the Onipa'a 17 club team that won its division at the USA Junior Olympic Volleyball Championships in Utah, beating the Big Island's Pilipa'a in the final. Suzumoto was named to the all-tournament team and his performance has attracted college coaches.

"It seemed like we clicked together and everyone knew each other's tendencies, what they're good at, weak at, we clicked every single game," Suzumoto said.

Managing diabetes has nearly come hand-in-hand with sports, being aware of his foods, his body and when he's overdoing it. Also a member of the Kalani basketball team, Suzumoto said "it built me into a mature person because I had to figure out what was what and how to manage it throughout life.

"There's no regrets," he said. "You keep going forward and playing, even if you have it, don't let it hold you back in life."