When he comes to fitness class at Webb School of Knoxville, his coach checks in with him. What's Clayton Ailshie's number? His blood sugar number.
"He knows if I am good to go or I need to sit down and drink a Gatorade or I need to run a mile," Clayton said. "If I am 300, then I probably need to go run for a minute. If I am 60, then I might need to sit down and drink a Gatorade. He knows, but the pump tells me everything, so it is really helpful."
The pump is about the size of a deck of cards.
"Currently controlling your diabetes is very easy. I have a pump right here. It pretty much does everything for me. All it needs me to do is prick my finger about five times a day," he said.
The insulin pump works all day and all night.
"It is a godsend for my parents because they always hated having to get up. They still love me, but they hated doing it," he said.
Clayton was 5 years old when he was diagnosed with Type I or juvenile diabetes. It is a lifelong disease. He deals it with it every day with a sense of humor.
"My parents have told me multiple times, 'Clayton you can't eat that not because of diabetes but because that is way too much for you to eat.' I go 'darn,'" he said with a shrug.
His "spin" on diabetes? There is even a good side.
He really enjoys the fundraisers like the annual One Walk. Because of the disease he's been an ambassador for Children's Hospital. He is the face of JDRF - the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - making speeches and promoting awareness.
"I got to have a picture and signed autograph with Peyton Manning. Last year I met one of the HGTV Property Brothers," he said.
And, of course, he always enjoys sitting down with WBIR's Russell Biven.
"It would have been a lot different because I would not have had as many experiences as I have had. So diabetes has definitely had a positive impact on my life on top of the negative," he said. "But I say my upbringing would have been the same but like I said I would not have had as many cool experiences."
And diabetes may even guide his career choice.
"When I was in 5th grade, every time I checked my sugar they would go, 'oh blood.' I'm like, it's not that bad. I see it every day. So that sparked the idea of I can do heart surgery and not be grossed out by it," he said.
That attitude is why Clayton Ailshie is a diabetes spokes kid and an optimistic example for all of us.
Clayton will participate in One Walk Knoxville as part of Clayton's Crew. So far he has raised more than $5,000 dollars.
There's still time to sign up. The event to support diabetes research is Saturday, May 5 at World's Fair Park.