80 Runners, One Message: Rethinking What Life With Diabetes Can Look Like
A marathon finish line is worth celebrating. But for one team heading to New York City this fall, the message they carry matters just as much as the miles.
Beyond Type 1’s "Beyond Type Run Team" will bring 80 runners affected by diabetes to the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on November 1. The group includes people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, caregivers and family members. Their goal: raise funds and challenge diabetes stereotypes as National Diabetes Awareness Month begins.
Beyond Type 1 is a global nonprofit that provides diabetes education, support and advocacy. Founded in 2015, with singer Nick Jonas among its co-founders, it serves people affected by both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Now in its ninth year, the "Beyond Type Run Team" program welcomes both first-time marathoners and experienced runners. For participants living with diabetes, preparing for 26.2 miles also involves managing glucose, fueling and, when applicable, insulin. prnewswire.com
That effort deserves recognition. Seeing someone pursue an ambitious goal while navigating diabetes can offer encouragement that a lecture or a list of statistics simply cannot.
Still, nobody needs to run a marathon to prove anything about living with diabetes. An afternoon walk, a favorite activity or getting through a demanding day can be an accomplishment, too. Stories like this are most meaningful when they expand our sense of possibility without turning someone else’s achievement into an expectation.
At Direct Diabetes, we’re cheering for the runners—and for everyone pursuing goals that matter to them. There’s room to celebrate every kind of progress.
