Dexcom’s fifth season of Dexcom U features its largest roster yet, highlighting a shift in attitudes towards diabetes in sports, with more young athletes participating confidently and supported by advanced continuous glucose monitoring technology.
Dexcom has launched the fifth season of Dexcom U, its name, image and likeness programme for college athletes living with diabetes, and says the new roster is its largest so far. The company said 27 athletes are involved this year, split between 12 newcomers and 15 returning participants, and competing across 13 sports. In a statement, Dexcom said the scheme is intended to support young athletes with diabetes through mentoring, events and peer connection while they manage their condition with continuous glucose monitoring technology.
The company claims the expansion reflects a wider shift in how young athletes view diabetes and participation in sport. Dexcom said new survey data suggest fewer young adults are quitting sport after diagnosis, with participation rates also higher than in its earlier research. The company added that feelings of loneliness and embarrassment linked to type 1 diabetes have fallen, while most respondents said seeing athletes and mentors with the condition would help newly diagnosed people feel represented and supported.
Dexcom’s latest roster includes athletes from universities such as Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, Oregon and USC, alongside competitors in hockey, basketball, football, volleyball, baseball, tennis, track and field, water polo, lacrosse and golf. The firm said athletes in the programme use its glucose monitors, including the G7 and the G7 15 Day system, to help manage glucose levels in real time on smartphones or smartwatches while training and competing. The company also said this year’s participants will receive access to elite-athlete mentors including Mason Miller, Mark Andrews, Adonai Mitchell, Josh Gesky and Jordan Morris.
Among the new recruits is Austin Howard, a Vanderbilt football player who said his diagnosis at 15 forced him to rethink how he trained and fuelled his body. Speaking in the company’s statement, Howard said support from coaches helped him return stronger and that he was keen to join a community of student athletes facing similar challenges. Dexcom said it will stage “Dexcom U Days” at selected games this autumn to connect younger athletes with college players in the programme.
The launch comes as Dexcom continues to widen its push beyond glucose monitoring hardware. The company, founded in 1999, describes itself as a leader in glucose biosensing and has recently highlighted growth in its core business, alongside work with regulators on digital health tools. Dexcom also said its older G6 system was due to be manufactured only until July 1, 2026, underscoring the company’s shift towards newer products in its consumer and clinical offering.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
