Cricket writer Adrian Seconi talks to Cumming at the start of Diabetes Awareness Week.
When Otago skipper Craig Cumming discovered he had diabetes three years ago he felt shock initially but a sense of relief quickly followed.
He had been feeling ill for some time and was seriously considering retiring from cricket.
"The way I was feeling mentally and physically I was probably ready to give up cricket," Cumming said.
"One of the symptoms is you lack energy and a big part of cricket is staying motivated.
"You need a fair bit of mental and physical strength but I'd lost all that and remember making a phone call to a good friend . . . and talked about whether I wanted to continue playing.
"But once I started on insulin it was like I'd been injected with energy."
The 34-year-old has type 1 diabetes, which means his body does not produce enough insulin and he is dependent on daily insulin injections.
He has made changes to his diet and has to keep a regular check on his insulin levels.
"The biggest thing you need to be is consistent with exercise and food.
"I find when I do that my insulin levels remain consistent too."
Consistent is something the opener has been at the crease as well.
Post diabetes, Cumming's batting average has steadily climbed.
Before August 2006, Cumming had scored 5160 runs at 34.40, including 10 centuries and 24 50s.
Since treatment he has scored a further 1874 runs at 41.64, including six centuries and eight 50s, lifting his career average to 36.07.
It is a marked improvement and while Cumming attributes most of the gain to a new technique, changes to his lifestyle have also contributed.
Having a job outside cricket has also helped him keep mentally fresh.
Cumming is the manager of the Central Otago News for Allied Press and quite often pulls double shifts.
During Otago's opening Plunket Shield match against Northern Districts at the University Oval last week Cumming was getting up early to do some work before heading to the ground to prepare for the day's play.
Burning the candles at both ends seems to be working.
The right hander made a superb beginning to the summer with innings of 42 and 126 and has been named in a New Zealand side which will play Pakistan in a warm-up match in Queenstown this week.
His 100 was his 16th first-class ton and 14th for Otago.
Ken Rutherford scored 14 100s for Otago as well and only Bert Sutcliffe has more 100s for the province with 17.
Cumming's tally of 168 runs lifted him to fourth on the Otago all-time run scorers leaderboard with 4481 runs, leapfrogging former opening partner Chris Gaffany (4326) and New Zealand great Glenn Turner (4439).
