King, a former world No. 1 tennis player and pioneer in women’s sports, is participating in the company’s Blue Balloon Challenge this year.
Introduced in 2021, the movement encourages people with diabetes to help drive awareness and understanding of the chronic condition. The company instructs people to take a video or photo while bouncing a blue balloon in the air with the hashtag #BlueBalloonChallenge. Each hashtag leads to a donation from Medtronic, which will soon spin off its Diabetes unit into a standalone, publicly traded company called MiniMed.
The challenge takes place during the American Diabetes Association’s National Diabetes Awareness Month, which includes World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14. World Diabetes Day marks the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting. Banting discovered the insulin hormone along with Charles Herbert Best in 1922. (We compiled lists in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, highlighting some of the action taken by diabetes technology companies.)
Notable advocates for the initiative previously included actress Jennifer Stone and former NFL player Kyle Rudolph. In 2023, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and former U.S. Vice Presidential candidate took part as well.
Learn more about Medtronic and the rest of the diabetes space by downloading our free Diabetes Technology Special Report.
In a video posted on LinkedIn today, King called the Blue Balloon Challenge “a powerful moment to raise awareness” for millions with diabetes.
“A diagnosis often comes with stigma and misconceptions, but it should never define who you are or limit what you can achieve,” King said. “For people living with diabetes, it’s like bouncing a balloon 24/7. By joining the Blue Balloon Challenge, we’re shining a light on the invisible burden that goes with managing diabetes, which can carry a heavy mental toll.
“Throughout my life, I fought to break barriers and champion causes. That’s why I’m inspired by the progress Medtronic Diabetes is making to help make diabetes easier and more predictable. Remember, anything is possible with diabetes.”
Que Dallara, the current EVP and Medtronic Diabetes unit president, and future MiniMed CEO, lauded King’s participation.
“Thank you to the legendary Billie Jean King for taking part in the Blue Balloon Challenge and helping to raise awareness of diabetes,” Dallara wrote. “She’s spent a lifetime pushing barriers and being an advocate for so many. It’s no surprise she’s lending her voice to fight the stigma of diabetes.”
Medtronic stated that King was compensated for her time and her thoughts and opinions are her own.
