Managing Diabetes
How Athletes with Diabetes Use Dexcom CGM for Peak Performance
Published: Oct. 5, 2026
6 min read
Know Your Number: How Athletes with Diabetes Use Dexcom CGM Data for Peak Performance
In sports, everything is numbers. But for athletes with diabetes, tracking your numbers has a deeper significance than personal records, stats, wins or losses.
In 2022, Dexcom launched Dexcom U—a groundbreaking NIL program designed to celebrate and empower college athletes living with diabetes. Each year Dexcom identifies exceptional student-athletes who rely on Dexcom continuous glucose monitors like Dexcom G7 or Dexcom G7 15 Day to manage their diabetes with real-time data delivered directly to their smartphone* or smartwatch† empowering them to better manage their diabetes while competing and breaking new barriers in sports and in life.
These 27 athletes make up the largest Dexcom U class yet and serve as role models for the next generation while proving that diabetes is not a barrier to athletic excellence—it simply becomes one more variable to manage. With the right tools and data, diabetes does not have to stand in the way of pursuing your dreams.
How Access To Real-Time Glucose Levels Improves Training and Competition
We spoke with members of the Dexcom U Season 5 Class about how using Dexcom G7 can give you more peace of mind and become a competitive advantage. Basketball player Cooper Farrall (Bentley University), explained the psychological shift: "The biggest thing Dexcom CGM has given me is peace of mind. Knowing where my glucose is and where it's heading means I'm not spending mental energy worrying about it—I can put that energy into my game instead."
Fellow basketball players Isaac Traudt (Creighton University) and Miles Byrd (Providence College) echoed this sentiment. Traudt stated: "Knowing my real-time glucose levels and trends helps me compete at the highest level I can. Having the peace of mind knowing exactly where I'm at gives me the freedom to compete." For basketball player Jenica Lewis (Notre Dame) knowing her numbers helps her plan. “It helps me plan for the intensity of my workouts. Depending on my workouts, I will plan my snacks and meals to help me compete at my best.”
Baseball players Drew Kleinheider (St. Louis University) and Eli Baker (Wabash Valley College) highlighted how immediate access to their numbers prevents disruption. Kleinheider explained: "I’m able to act faster if my glucose levels fluctuate and catch it before it gets out of control, letting me focus a lot more on playing." Baker added: "When I don't have to worry about being too high or too low, it makes my body feel much better."
Specific Moments Where Dexcom CGM Made the Difference
The impact of Dexcom G7 becomes most evident in critical moments. Baseball player Jackson Montgomery (Coppin State University) shared: "Having my glucose levels in range helped me mentally and physically perform at my best on the field and make the plays my team needed. I was able to get out of the inning without allowing either runner to advance."
Both softball player Kylie Flaherty (Manhattan University) and water polo player Ben Mirisch (University of Southern California) experienced the power of catching glucose trends before symptoms appeared. Knowing their numbers and addressing them proactively during downtime before competitions allowed both athletes to stay focused on performing their best rather than pausing to treat a low.
Track athletes Clarke Byram (University of Tennessee, Knoxville) and Madison Moraja (North Carolina State) emphasized using their Dexcom G7 CGMs to help them feel their best can leave it all on the track. Byram shared: "I think any time I set a personal best, I can attribute some of that to my Dexcom CGM. During a competition I don't have time to constantly stop and check manually‡." Moraja added: "Having my Dexcom CGM was critical during a race when I had an adrenaline high and glucose low. It provided my numbers so I could treat my levels."
Athletic Goals and How Dexcom G7 Helps You Achieve Them
Championship and major league aspirations require managing every variable that could affect performance. All three football players on the Dexcom U roster are pursuing different goals. Austin Howard (Vanderbilt University) aims for more playing time and uses his Dexcom G7 to maximize every practice rep. Patrick Heneghan (Dennison University) wants to become “the best QB he can be and lead his team to success.” Heneghan emphasized that proactive glucose management will help him get there.
John Neider’s (West Virginia University) goal is to become a professional football player, just like Dexcom Warrior Mark Andrews. Neider explained: "My biggest goal is to play football at the professional level. Knowing my glucose levels has helped me hit PRs. Dexcom CGM has helped me stay healthy and in the best shape possible so I can outperform people around me."
Other Dexcom U athletes have similar ambitious goals. Soccer player Maxim Speed (Saint Mary's University) aspires to become a professional soccer player. Track athlete Kya Epps (University of Cincinnati) sets her sights on winning a gold medal for USA one day: "My biggest goal is to go pro and compete at the 2028 summer games. Competing at the national level with my Dexcom G7 made it easier for me and my coach to manage glucose."
Tips from Dexcom U Athletes for Managing Diabetes and Achieving Goals
You don’t have to navigate setting and achieving athletic goals while managing diabetes all by yourself. Dexcom U athletes offer practical advice from their own experiences that you may find helpful, too.
Mindset
Volleyball player Katy Foley (Cal Polytechnic State University) and hockey player Aliya Gricius (University of Wisconsin-Superior) both highlighted the power of mindset.
Foley stated: "Don't let your numbers control your mindset. Highs and lows happen, but we can control how we let it affect us. If we control our mindset and use our Dexcom CGM to help manage our numbers, we can achieve our goals."
Gricius reinforced this: "Don't let diabetes make you think you have to lower your goals. Use your Dexcom CGM to learn how your body responds to different workouts, practices, and games. The more you learn from your data, the more confident you'll become, and that confidence carries over into your performance."
Preparation
With the right mindset, you can turn your focus to preparation. Speed shared, “The biggest piece of advice I’d share with other athletes with diabetes is to never skip or shortcut preparation. If you want to achieve your goals, preparing yourself for whatever your goals ask of you is the easiest way. That’s exactly what my Dexcom CGM helps me do everyday: Prepare.”
Personalization
While others can help show you the path that worked for them, success requires finding your own personal routine. Tennis player Rachel Thompson (Columbia College) advised: "Learn your own body and never compare your diabetes journey to someone else's. Pay attention to your Dexcom CGM trends and arrows—they help you make decisions before levels move out of range."
Field hockey player Nadia Nemeth (Northwestern University) recommended: "Create a routine so there's no guessing around competition. It will allow you to focus on your game. Building a routine that works for you takes time and every T1D’s pre-competition routine is different, but it is important to start developing one to give you more peace of mind."
Lacrosse player Niamh Pfaff (Yale University) stressed: "Pay attention to patterns and learn how your body responds. I've learned how different foods and activity levels impact my glucose. Having that information helped me understand what works best."
Support Network
Farrall brought it back to diabetes being a team sport. “You don't have to manage it solo. Get your coaches, trainers, and even teammates familiar with the basics so they can support you in real time, not just your family off the court. The technology gives you the information. What separates good from great is building the systems and the people around you to actually act on it.”
Diabetes Doesn't Define Your Athletic Future
Heneghan shared this advice: “Most importantly, don't let diabetes define what you think you're capable of! With the right technology and preparation, there's no reason you can't chase the same goals as everyone else!”
With access to your glucose levels in real time, you can make more informed decisions about fueling, training, and competing. From the moment you step onto the field, court, or track, Dexcom G7 15 Day helps empower you to compete freely, train harder, and chase your athletic dreams.
These Dexcom U athletes demonstrate that anything is possible when you don’t let diabetes hold you back.
Get started on Dexcom G7 15 Day today!
Every diabetes journey starts somewhere. Learn how Dexcom G7 15 Day can help you take the next step with confidence.
*Compatible smart devices sold separately. To view a list of compatible devices, visit https://www.dexcom.com/compatibility†Compatible smartphone is required to pair a new Dexcom G7 sensor with a compatible Apple Watch. To use Share/Follow the smartphone must be within 33 feet of the Dexcom G7 or Dexcom G7 15 Day ‡If your glucose alerts and readings from Dexcom G7 15 Day do not match symptoms or expectations, use a blood glucose meter to make diabetes treatment decisions.