Katie Bone, a 19-year-old athlete from Northern Colorado, is not only competing on the national stage but also advocating for a cause that deeply affects her daily life. A past champion on NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior,” Bone is now aiming for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles in the sport of speed climbing. Her journey is particularly compelling because she’s doing it all while managing Type 1 diabetes (T1D), a condition she was diagnosed with at age 11. Her story highlights the intersection of elite athleticism and chronic disease management, and it’s one that continues to inspire and inform.

Bone’s experience with diabetes is far from a footnote in her athletic career—it’s a central challenge she navigates every day. As she trains and competes, her blood sugar levels demand constant attention. In July, she took her advocacy to Washington D.C., speaking before the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. There, she described the toll diabetes has taken on her physical and mental health, and how it complicates her Olympic aspirations. Her goal is to help renew funding for the Special Diabetes Program (SDP), a federal initiative that supports research and treatment advancements for T1D. According to Breakthrough T1D, the SDP’s current funding cycle is set to expire at the end of this month.

“A lot of this funding goes to diabetes management advances,” Bone said. “But a lot of it is also going to more research to allow for more clinical trials, to get to where we don’t have to have diabetes anymore.” Her advocacy is rooted in personal experience, but it carries broader implications for the millions of Americans living with the condition.

Currently, Bone is in Las Vegas filming Season 18 of “American Ninja Warrior.” Her return to the show follows a challenging period marked by injury and recovery. After winning the women’s championship in Season 14, she missed the next two seasons due to a serious knee injury sustained at the USA Climbing National Team Trials. Since then, she has undergone three surgeries and anticipates at least one more. Despite these setbacks, she returned to compete in Season 17, which aired this past summer.

Training for elite competition while managing a chronic illness is no small feat. Bone has had to balance her physical recovery with the unpredictable nature of her blood sugar levels. “It’s been a hard balance of figuring out how to get my body adjusted,” she said. The upcoming surgery adds another layer of uncertainty to her Olympic dreams. “Olympics are the goal,” she reaffirmed. “But there are a lot of ‘I don’t knows’ just because I can’t really predict how my knee is going to do with my (upcoming) surgery.” Still, she remains committed to trying for the 2028 Games and possibly continuing through 2032.

What stood out to me is how Bone’s advocacy is grounded in both her personal journey and the tangible benefits of medical advancements. She uses an Omnipod, a tubeless insulin delivery system, and her continuous glucose monitor syncs with her and her boyfriend’s phones, allowing real-time tracking without the need for finger pricks. These tools are the result of years of research, much of it supported by programs like the SDP. Her boyfriend, Kaden Lebsack—also a competitor on “American Ninja Warrior”—noted, “It’s amazing how she’s still able to give training her all, and how she is able to compete at the level she is.”

Adding to her support system is her diabetes alert dog, a 2-year-old labradoodle trained to detect changes in her blood sugar levels through scent. Bone shared a recent moment when the dog alerted her before her glucose monitor registered a spike. “Even just last week, we were at the gym and he alerted me, and I looked at my continuous glucose monitor and thought he was lying. Then within 15 minutes, my blood sugar was high.” It’s a reminder of how technology and trained service animals can work together to provide a safety net for individuals managing chronic conditions.

Bone’s public presence comes at a time when diabetes is becoming a more open topic in American culture. This past summer, Mattel introduced its first Barbie doll with Type 1 diabetes. In professional sports, figures like NFL tight end Mark Andrews and NHL forward Max Domi have spoken out about managing T1D while competing at the highest levels. Domi even wrote a book about his experience titled “No Days Off: My Life with Type 1 Diabetes and Journey to the NHL.”

Locally, young athletes are also sharing their stories. Broomfield High School football graduates CT Worley and Noah Biller have previously opened up about their lives with T1D, contributing to a growing narrative of resilience and advocacy among youth.

Bone’s journey is a testament to what’s possible when determination meets innovation. Her story underscores the importance of continued funding for diabetes research and management tools. As she trains, competes, and advocates, she’s not just chasing medals—she’s helping to shape a future where managing Type 1 diabetes is less burdensome and more effective for everyone.

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