Today, Nov. 14, is World Diabetes Day, which marks the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting. Banting discovered the insulin hormone along with Charles Herbert Best in 1922. It also lands during the American Diabetes Association’s National Diabetes Awareness Month.
(We compiled lists in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, highlighting some of the industry-wide initiatives for these occasions. Here’s what Dexcom did last year.)
Dexcom’s latest initiative selected 16 advocates from all over the world out of 1,000 open-call submissions. The advocates, ranging from ages six to 68, have different types of diabetes and represent four continents and five countries. Each person’s selection was based on their experience advocating for people with diabetes in their communities. The company said each advocate shares a common passion for advocacy and for the company’s glucose biosensing technology.
According to Dexcom, its effort marks the first time it looked to source voices from the broader diabetes community specifically for its World Diabetes Day campaign. It highlights personal stories about diabetes, misconceptions the advocates would like to dispel and how they would like to inspire others.
Dexcom welcomed the advocates to a photoshoot in Los Angeles that included Grammy-nominated artist, actor, producer and Dexcom user Lance Bass, as well as author, producer, actress and Stelo over-the-counter CGM ambassador Retta. Tommy Lundberg, who lives with type 1 diabetes, served as the photographer for the photoshoot.
“Directing this photoshoot was nothing short of inspiring. Each of these advocates has a unique and compelling story, but they are all bonded by the shared experience of living with diabetes and passion for helping others in their diabetes journey,” said Lundberg. “I’m looking forward to people around the world seeing the strength of their advocacy shine through in this meaningful campaign.”
The new Dexcom Diabetes Advocates
- Ben Schwinof: Portland, OR, United States | Age 50, Type 2 Diabetes
- Bridget Curran: New York, NY, United States | Age 56, Prediabetes
- Bruce Moss: Durango, CO, United States | Age 67, Type 1 Diabetes
- Cindy Reinl: Stuttgart, Germany | Age 26, Type 1 Diabetes
- Darrell Byers: Boston, United States | Age 64, Type 2 Diabetes
- Isabelle da Silva: Boca Raton, FL, United States | Age 6, Type 1 Diabetes
- Jacob Cain: Mesa, AZ, United States | Age 49, Type 2 Diabetes
- Kari Cichoski: Las Vegas, NV, United States | Age 38, Type 1 Diabetes
- Kate Beaulieu: Toronto, ON, Canada | Age 20, Type 1 Diabetes
- Kaye Peterson: Lebanon, KY, United States | Age 68, Type 1 Diabetes
- Lachie Kennedy: Brisbane, Australia | Age 22, Type 1 Diabetes
- Maria Alejandra Jove Valerio: Boston, MA, United States | Age 20, Type 1 Diabetes
- MiYeong Kim: Seoul, South Korea | Age 48, Mother to a Son with Type 1 Diabetes
- Sofia Pansini: Boston, MA, United States | Age 21, Type 1 Diabetes
- Tajah Russell: Dallas, TX, United States | Age 31, Type 1 Diabetes
- Tai’yon Allen Walker: Annapolis, MD, United States | Age 11, Type 1 Diabetes
