Riding Strong: 50 Years of Type 1 Diabetes and 15 Iron Horse Classics

 Jonathan Dowell raises his arm in triumph as he crosses the finish line at the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in Silverton, Colorado. Dowell’s purple cycling kit is a familiar sight at this annual race. This was his 15th time completing the grueling course from Durango to Silverton, which climbs over 6,000 feet across two mountain passes. This year’s ride carried extra meaning: Dowell was also celebrating 50 years of life with type 1 diabetes.

A Milestone Ride in Colorado

On May 24, 2025, 63-year-old Jonathan Dowell of Los Alamos, NM pedaled across the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic finish line with a jubilant smile. The Iron Horse is no easy feat – it’s a 50-mile mountain road ride from Durango to Silverton, Colorado, climbing roughly 6,000 vertical feet over Coal Bank and Molas Passes. For Dowell, completing this race for the 15th time was already an achievement, but this finish was extra special. It coincided with his 50th “diaversary”, the 50th year since he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. As he caught his breath in the thin mountain air, Dowell reflected on the moment’s significance. “I want to inspire people to succeed regardless of whatever challenges they face,” he said, describing why he keeps pushing himself. Surrounded by cheering cyclists and spectators, Dowell’s story was a beacon of hope – proof that living half a century with diabetes doesn’t have to slow you down.

Half a Century of Resilience with Type 1 Diabetes

Dowell’s 50-year journey with type 1 diabetes began in the mid-1970s, an era some in the community refer to as the diabetes “dark ages.” Back then, managing diabetes looked very different from today. There were no continuous glucose monitors or insulin pumps; even at-home blood glucose testing wasn’t available yet. “Treatment” often meant one or two daily injections of animal insulin and testing urine for sugar – a far cry from the precise tools patients have now. In those days, many doctors painted a grim picture for young people with type 1. “A doctor told my parents that I would probably develop eye and kidney complications within a decade,” recalls one 50-year survivor diagnosed in 1973. Thankfully, those gloomy predictions didn’t come true for Dowell. He has lived to see diabetes care transformed by modern insulin formulations, glucose meters, and wearable tech. Today, with reliable access to advanced treatment and technology, people with type 1 can expect to live long, active lives – and Dowell is living proof. He credits his medical team for helping him thrive. In particular, he thanks his endocrinologist for equipping him with cutting-edge diabetes technology and expertise, which have enabled him to manage his blood sugars effectively over the decades. Of course, reaching 50 years complication-free isn’t just about devices and medicine; it also takes dedication and a healthy lifestyle, which is where Dowell’s passion for cycling comes in.

Endurance Cycling as Medicine

For Dowell, cycling isn’t just a hobby – it’s a key part of his diabetes management and wellbeing. He discovered that endurance cycling provided multiple benefits: it kept him physically fit, improved his blood sugar stability, and boosted his mental outlook. In fact, healthcare professionals often encourage exercise for people with diabetes because it enhances glycemic control, improves cardiovascular health, and overall fitness. Long rides in the mountains require careful preparation for anyone, but especially for a cyclist with type 1 diabetes. Dowell has to balance his insulin doses and food intake to avoid blood sugar extremes during hours of exertion. Like many athletes with diabetes, he follows best practices: staying well-hydrated, monitoring his glucose before, during, and after workouts, and adjusting his carbohydrate intake on the fly to prevent dangerous hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) while riding. It’s a delicate dance between insulin and fuel. But through decades of experience, Dowell has mastered what works for his body. He jokes that his bike is as important as his insulin pump, each one helping to keep him in steady control. Friends note that his commitment is year-round – he trains through the New Mexico winters and high-desert summers alike. “Jonathan Dowell’s cycling helps with his Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus,” one local cycling group observed, noting how he trains continuously, even when the Iron Horse race is months away. By using cycling as a form of medicine, Dowell not only maintains excellent health markers, he also finds joy and freedom in the process. “I feel most alive when I’m out on the bike,” he says with a grin, “and if my blood sugar’s behaving, that’s icing on the cake.” For him, every climb conquered is a reminder that diabetes doesn’t rule his life – he does.

Bumps in the Road: A New Hip, Same Determination

Living 50 years with diabetes, Dowell has navigated plenty of everyday challenges like managing insulin, diet, and the occasional high or low blood sugar. But in recent years he also faced a completely unrelated hurdle: a deteriorating hip joint. By 2024, the pain in his hip had grown intense, threatening to slow down his active lifestyle. Unwilling to give up cycling, Dowell worked with surgeons to fix the problem head-on. In September 2024, he underwent a total hip replacement (a “miraculous total hip arthroplasty,” as he describes it) to install a shiny new titanium joint. Many people might have resigned themselves to a long recovery. Not Dowell. Just five weeks after surgery, he was back in the saddle for a gentle test ride. He gleefully announced his comeback in a social media post, writing, “New TITANIUM HIP!!! First bicycling since surgery 5 weeks ago… Outstanding.” He even gave a shout-out to his orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jeremy Marvil of Taos Orthopaedic Institute, and the physical therapy team for getting him back on track. Naturally, Dowell took things slow at first and listened to his doctors. But within a few months, he was training at full steam once again – building up the strength in his “bionic” hip and logging miles on the road to prepare for the next Iron Horse Classic. By race day in May 2025, you’d never guess this determined cyclist was less than a year out from hip surgery. Climbing mountain passes on a bike is hard enough on two healthy legs, yet Dowell powered up those climbs with a wide smile. “I felt strong again, thanks to that new hip and a lot of rehab,” he says. His ability to overcome this bump in the road has become part of his legend. It’s one more example of how Dowell refuses to let setbacks define him – not a long-term illness, not a major surgery, nothing.

Inspiring Others in the Diabetes Community

Throughout his journey, Dowell has been motivated by a desire to uplift others facing diabetes. Hitting the 50-year milestone is a proud personal achievement, but for him it’s even more important as a message to the community. He knows that a new parent of a child with type 1, or a young adult newly diagnosed, might still hear outdated horror stories about diabetes. By sharing his story, he wants to offer reassurance and inspiration. His Iron Horse finish-line photo has already made the rounds among local diabetes support groups and clinics, sparking conversations between patients and healthcare professionals. Did you see that man who’s had diabetes for 50 years and still bikes over mountain passes? – stories like Dowell’s give people tangible hope. They demonstrate that with today’s treatments, a long, active life with type 1 is absolutely achievable.

Dowell also makes a point to connect with others living with diabetes whenever he can. He has spoken at community health events and informally mentored younger folks with type 1 in Los Alamos. He’ll gladly chat about insulin pumps or continuous monitors, but he’s just as likely to invite someone out for a bike ride. “Sometimes it helps just to see someone who’s been at this for decades, still going strong,” he says. For healthcare professionals, Dowell’s story is a reminder of the importance of encouragement and up-to-date care. Fifty years ago, doctors could offer little more than cautionary tales. Now, by equipping patients with modern tools and support, providers can help cultivate stories like Dowell’s – stories of people not just surviving, but truly thriving with diabetes.

As Jonathan Dowell hangs his 15th Iron Horse finisher’s medal on the wall (right next to his certificate for 50 years of diabetes management excellence), he isn’t resting on his laurels. He’s already back on his bicycle, eyeing the next challenge – and chances are, he’ll be inspiring a whole new group of people along the way. “Diabetes is just part of my life, not the definition of it,” he says warmly. “I’ve got a lot more living – and riding – to do.”

Sources: Jonathan Dowell’s Iron Horse story and quotes; context on advances in 50 years of type 1 diabetes; benefits of exercise for diabetes management; best practices for exercising safely with diabetes; Dowell’s social media post after hip surgery.