Sounders FC's Jordan Morris uses soccer as platform to increase diabetes awareness





He came crashing onto the national stage thanks to his success playing for the United States.

Add winning the national championship and being named the best college player in the country and soon Jordan Morris is a household name.

Signed with the Sounders in January, Morris knows people know his story - but it's the untold one that he says is the most important.

"I was diagnosed when I was nine," Morris said.

The 21-year-old striker is rather open about having Type One Diabetes. In fact, he wears the condition publicly for everyone to see.

"I didn't even know if I'd be able to play soccer in college and that's very exciting," Morris said. I hope to be an inspiration for younger diabetics in that way."

Wearing an insulin pump for 12 years now, it took Jordan awhile to come to terms with having diabetes and even manage it so he can perform to the best of his abilities.

"It made me have to become very responsible at age nine. It's definitely a 24-7 job. I had to learn to deal with my blood sugar and give myself insulin - if you have high blood sugar or low blood sugar before a game it effects how you're feeling and can affect how you play," Morris said.

Jordan has never used it as an excuse - and he won't. He wants others to see that playing - and playing at the highest level - is still possible.

"Honestly, I think that's been one of the coolest parts of this rise in the last years that diabetics have reached out to me and said stuff like that - that they kind of look at me as an inspiration and that's definitely my goal," Morris said. "You can accomplish your dreams, you can accomplish what your goal is and I know it's tough, it can be annoying but it can't stop you."