The singer behind pop hits like “Jealous” and “Chains” relies on Dexcom G7 to get real-time updates about his glucose levels.
Nick Jonas is busy. He’s currently promoting the Jonas Brothers’ new album “Greetings from Your Hometown,” and he’s on the road with his two brothers for their “JONAS20: Greetings From Your Hometown” tour. He also has to pay close attention to his glucose levels.
Jonas was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at 13, and over the past couple decades, he has become an outspoken advocate for those with the condition.
“I never set out to be the face of T1D,” Jonas said. “I just wanted to be authentic, share my story, and hope that it would connect with people.”
In honor of his new album, which celebrates Jonas’s past, he recently took a look back at his diabetes journey.
A diabetes diagnosis reshaped his life
At 13, Jonas was losing weight, irritable, and frequently tired. He was eventually diagnosed with T1D in 2005.
“My diabetes diagnosis had a major impact on my life and my family’s life,” he said. “It was this shift to the next chapter.”
Jonas said he struggled in the first few years, often feeling frustrated, but he relied on his friends, family, and doctors to guide him through.
“My focus from the beginning was, ‘How do I get back to some version of normalcy?’” Jonas said. “My support system was the key to being able to do that.”
Turning a diagnosis into advocacy
Jonas knew he wanted to raise awareness about diabetes early on, and he said he’s proud that he did.
“There’s a version of the 13-year-old me sitting in a hospital bed, newly diagnosed, wondering how they were going to live with this and if it was going to disrupt their life,” Jonas said. “I wanted to try to be a role model, or an example of the fact that you can live a big, full life while living with this disease.”
In 2015, he started Beyond Type 1, a nonprofit organization that educates people about the disease.
Jonas said the organization’s ultimate goal is to advocate for a cure, but for now, he’s focusing on getting diabetes patients around the world the help they need. He said he wants to focus on underserved communities that have limited access to the life-saving technology he has.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve built so far, but there’s so much more to come,” Jonas said.
An easier way to manage T1D
For years, Jonas has relied on Dexcom continuous glucose monitoring technology to track his glucose levels. While on tour, Jonas said he relies heavily on his Dexcom G7 readings.
Dexcom G7 is a small wearable that tracks a user’s glucose levels throughout the day and night, providing real-time readings sent straight to their phones or smartwatches. uses Dexcom Follow, which lets him share his levels remotely with his family and team, giving them added peace of mind.
“I truly love this device, and it’s had a major impact on my life,” he said.
The glucose readings provide actionable insights, allowing users to make informed decisions about their diabetes management, diet, exercise, and lifestyle choices.
“[When I’m] performing — either on the Broadway stage or on tour — I can pull up my phone and see where I’m at,” Jonas said. “That’s a game changer. Having unknowns taken out of the equation shifts everything and makes living with this disease a lot easier.”
