As a 10-year-old diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, Grant Wasczak’s first question was, “Can I still swim?” An answer of “No” from the nurse could have stopped him from reaching for his dreams, but his dad pointed out how much progress had been made in treating diabetes.

It took some adjustments. Wasczak had to rebuild his stamina in the water, at first being able to swim only 45 minutes of a two-hour practice. He’d been a competitive swimmer for years.

“I had to give myself shots; for the first couple years it was hard in the pool,” he said. “When I got on the pump a year after diagnosis, that was a life changer for me, and that allowed me to get into the good swimming routine and perform at my highest level.”

Now, he’s one of the faces of Dexcom U. Dexcom U is the first-ever NIL (name, image, likeness) program designed to celebrate college athletes with diabetes and inspire people with diabetes who have athletic dreams of their own, according to a press release.

“Dexcom wanted to create a unique program with college athletes [with] diabetes to better manage their condition; breaking barriers showing you don’t have to give up on your dreams or athletic aspirations just because you have diabetes,” said a Dexcom spokesperson. 

Dexcom U was created in response to the Supreme Court’s NIL decision and the wave of brands signing college athletes, according to a Dexcom representative. The program offers 14 college athletes across 11 different sports a platform to share their story, act as role models to other inspiring athletes and receive mentorship and support from Dexcom U teammates, professional athletes, and figures who understand the challenges that athletes with diabetes face.

Dexcom conducted research showing one in five people with Type 1 Diabetes gives up on pursuing their dreams and goals.

“These athletes innately want to inspire others and be a shining light,” explains the Dexcom spokesperson. “This is a program for these high achieving athletes to show you can do it. “

Wasczak, a swimmer at UNO, said he didn’t know what to expect.

“It’s a big opportunity for me and other athletes to be able to inspire the younger generation and especially those who deal with Type 1 diabetes and show they can beat the odds,” he said. “It’s all possible if you put your mind to it.”

His own role models are his dad who inspired and coached him, as well as Gary Hall Jr., an Olympian with Type 1 Diabetes.

“He was diagnosed three months before [he] won the gold medal,” Wasczak said. “I met him when I was in high school. He gave me a lot of good advice on how to deal with my diabetes when swimming. He changed my perspective on the sport and how I can deal with my diabetes.”

Wasczak said how diabetes impacts him as a swimmer depends on the day. “It depends on what I’m eating and what time the practices are at. When I’m swimming in morning [my blood sugar] will drop low in the pool if we are doing exercises.”

Staying on top of his sugars and eating right is motivation to be an elite, Division I athlete. Wasczak started to use Dexcom four years ago after trying another monitor that was too bulky and difficult to use in the pool.

“I have a routine with checking my blood sugar and eating schedule,” he said. “It gives me motivation to not feel bad in the pool. Dexcom makes it so much easier, too.”

Wasczak hopes to be a role model.

“I think a way I can be a model is being able to show people that there’s no limits on what you can do, no matter what you’re dealing with,” he said. “I want to get my message out there that anything that gets in your way can always be overcome.”