PEORIA, Ariz. -- The subject of diabetes has been a conversation piece around the Padres' clubhouse the past few days. And it's one that pitcher Scott Cassidy is familiar with.

Cassidy, 31, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in July 2000. His teammate, David Wells, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes earlier this spring.

Nearly seven years later, Cassidy feels as healthy as he did before the diagnosis. He has a handle on his diet, his life and his body.

And that, he said, allows him to focus on other important things, like honing his craft and pitching his way onto the team's 25-man Opening Day roster.

Cassidy, who posted a 6-4 record and a 2.53 ERA in 42 games for the Padres last season, is one of about a dozen relievers vying for seven spots in the bullpen.

"I know there's a lot of competition for bullpen spots, and it's pretty much up for grabs," Cassidy said. "I've got good command of my fastball, and my off-speed pitches have been coming around a lot better than last year.

"At this point right now, I think I'm a better pitcher than last year."

Pitching coach Darren Balsley agrees. Balsley said Cassidy has an improved splitter and slider to complement his already-good fastball.

The right-hander produced for the Padres last season, boasting a 2.79 ERA in mid-July. But with veteran reliever Doug Brocail eligible to come off the disabled list, the Padres needed a player with minor-league options, and Cassidy was the guy.

"He was just as important as everyone else on the staff," Balsley said. "The thing he does best is locate his fastball. But his split-finger is improved and should be better once we get out of Arizona. He definitely has got a good shot at making the club."

Getting healthy was Cassidy's focus in 2000. At the time, he was a starting pitcher at Double-A Tennessee in the Toronto organization. He had just been promoted from Single-A Dunedin, where he was 9-3 with a 1.33 ERA in 14 appearances.

But then he began feeling ill.

"All of a sudden I felt real weak," Cassidy said. "I had extreme thirst, I was fatigued really fast and I started losing a lot of weight."

Cassidy eventually lost 20 pounds off his 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame. A trip to the doctor's office provided an answer.

"Immediately after I took the (insulin) shot I felt better, but in order to get all the strength back it took a while," Cassidy said.

Cassidy eventually got back on track. He made 58 appearances with Toronto during the 2002 season, was traded to Boston in 2004, and eventually came to San Diego in a July 2005 trade for Adam Hyzdu.

Now he's hoping for another shot at the majors, although he's aware he has two strikes against him in the form of player options.

"I hope they pick based on who can help the team win rather than based on who has options left," Cassidy said. "I hope they take that into consideration, and my contribution to help this team win (last year) will hold some water when it comes to decision time, but it's out of my hands.

"They know what I can do."

- Contact staff writer Dan Hayes at dhayes@nctimes.com.