Dexcom Brings Mentorship to Centerfield, Welcomes New, Star Athletes to Its Ground-breaking NIL Program Dexcom U
- Kicking off its third season, Dexcom U welcomes four new athletes, including Shelomi Sanders, a rising star on the Alabama A&M University basketball team, to its diverse roster of 20 athletes with diabetes representing 12 sports across 18 colleges
- First-of-its-kind program continues to serve as a beacon of education and inspiration for the diabetes community through mentorship opportunities such as the Dexcom U Sports Camp which took place in June 2024
DexCom, Inc. (NASDAQ:DXCM), the global leader in real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for people with diabetes, announced today the launch of the third season of Dexcom U, the company's groundbreaking NIL (name, image, likeness) program exclusively for college athletes with diabetes.
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The Dexcom U 2024 roster consists of 20 athletes who all use Dexcom CGM to monitor their glucose levels and manage their diabetes (Graphic: Dexcom)
Heralded by Ad Age as a Top 5 NIL Partnership after its inaugural season in 2022, the 2024 Dexcom U season welcomes four new athletes from top schools including Alabama A&M, University of Southern California, University of Missouri and Florida Gulf Coast University. The roster includes 20 athletes across 12 different sports including beach volleyball, water polo, lacrosse, cheerleading and more.
All Dexcom U athletes use Dexcom continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology to manage their diabetes. Dexcom CGMs consist of a small, wearable sensor that continually measures and sends glucose data wirelessly to a smart device* or receiver, giving users accurate1 real-time glucose data that empowers them to train and compete at a high level, breaking new barriers in their respective sports.
"Heading into year three of this unique program, we want to amplify the impact Dexcom U athletes are making on the next generation of people with diabetes," said Teri Lawver, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Dexcom. "After supporting nearly 30 college athletes since the program's inception in 2022, with multiple reaching professional ranks, our Dexcom U roster is proof that with the right support and technology, people with diabetes can achieve their athletic dreams."
With research that reveals representation for people with diabetes can help inspire up-and-coming college and professional athletes2, Dexcom has doubled down on fuelling mentorships between aspiring young athletes and those playing at the collegiate or pro levels.
To bring the program's mentorship pillar to life, Dexcom hosted the first-ever Dexcom U Sports Camp in San Diego during the offseason. The camp brought together professional athletes including Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and Miami Dolphins long snapper Blake Ferguson, Dexcom U team members and young athletes ranging from ages 11 to 15 — all who have three things in common: a diabetes diagnosis, a passion for sports, and pride in wearing Dexcom CGM technology like Dexcom G7. At the camp, Dexcom U athletes were paired with mentees following a dynamic day of activities. Since then, they regularly check in on each other, offering support and reminders that diabetes doesn't have to hold them back.
The Dexcom U 2024 roster consists of 20 athletes, with four new and 16 returning members, who all use Dexcom CGM to monitor their glucose levels and manage their diabetes:
- Amber Jackson, Track & Field, University of Louisville
- Ava DeStefon, Cheerleading, Clemson University
- Ben Mirisch, Water Polo, University of Southern California
- Bri Carrasquillo, Lacrosse, University of Oregon
- Caleb Fauria, Football, University of Delaware
- Dante Vasquez, Football, Springfield College
- Isaac Traudt, Basketball, Creighton University
- Jaci Carpenter, Beach Volleyball, Florida Gulf Coast University
- Jaxon Dowell, Golf, University of Oklahoma
- Jessica Walter, Softball, Providence College
- Joshua Meriwether, Football, Tennessee State University
- Leo Giannoni, Baseball, Florida Gulf Coast University
- Madison Moraja, Track & Field, North Carolina State University
- Marlee Fray, Soccer, Oral Roberts University
- Nicholas Hahne, Cheerleading, University of Notre Dame
- Paris Husic, Track & Field, Clemson University
- Raegan Lantz, Volleyball, Miami (OH) University
- Sam Horn, Football & Baseball, University of Missouri
- Shelomi Sanders, Basketball, Alabama A&M
- Tristan Wakefield, Rowing, Syracuse University
"I joined Dexcom U because it's important to me to share my story to be a voice for others and show I won't be deterred from achieving my goals despite living with diabetes," said Shelomi Sanders, first-year member of Dexcom U and basketball player at Alabama A&M. "Not only does my Dexcom G7 give me and my loved ones peace of mind, but the connectivity features I'm able to tap into through my automated insulin delivery system help me elevate my game to the next level."
Dexcom will continue to offer free educational resources to help other athletes with diabetes better understand how to manage their condition. These resources also help parents, coaches and teammates better understand the disease and learn how to support those with diabetes. These resources consist of first-hand advice from Dexcom U athletes as well as tips for the next generation of athletes with diabetes so they can better manage their condition, stay active and feel their best physically and mentally – on and off the field.
"Being part of such a special program like Dexcom U means the world to me, and it's empowering to know there's a community out there that understands the additional hurdles that athletes with diabetes have to overcome," said Joshua Meriwether, second-year member of the program and football player at Tennessee State University. "As a young teenager I dreamed of having a support system like I do with my Dexcom U teammates, so being able to mentor and inspire the next generation of athletes with diabetes is extremely rewarding."
To learn more about Dexcom U and access the educational resources, visit https://www.dexcom.com/dexcomu.
About Dexcom, Inc.
DexCom, Inc. empowers people to take control of health through innovative continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., and with operations across Europe and select parts of Asia/Oceania, Dexcom has emerged as a leader of diabetes care technology. By listening to the needs of users, caregivers and providers, Dexcom works to simplify and improve diabetes management around the world. For more information on Dexcom, visit https://www.dexcom.com/about.
*Smart device sold separately. For a list of compatible devices, visit www.Dexcom.com/compatibility.
1 Welsh JB, et al. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2024;18(1):143-7.
2 Dexcom, U.S. data on file, September 2022
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