Chad Muma’s love of football started at age 5 when he subbed in for his older brother's Pop Warner team. He knew that he wanted to play football at a professional level by the second grade.
At 13 years old, Chad started experiencing symptoms like weight loss, fatigue, and extreme thirst. When his weight loss accelerated, Chad was formally diagnosed with type one diabetes.
“I was scared, but I also felt like it was a relief to finally know what was wrong with me,” Chad said. The diagnosis was a shock, but Chad and his family gained confidence in managing his new normal. He was back on the field within a week.
"I always wanted to be playing football in the NFL, and it was always a dream of mine," said Chad. “I held on to that as long as I could. Even if people were saying, ‘Oh,what’s your plan B?’ And, in my head, I was like, ‘Why would there be a plan B?’"
In 2018, Chad continued his father's and grandfather’s legacy of playing football for the University of Wyoming. During his stint in Laramie, Chad would emerge as one of the top linebackers in college football. He was determined to prove diabetes would not stand in the way of his end game.
Life as a Professional Athlete with Type 1 Diabetes
His efforts were rewarded and his dreams realized when Chad was selected in the 2022 professional football league draft.
“When that call finally came from Jacksonville, it was just … everything hits you at once,” he said. “It’s something that you’ve been working for your entire life. It makes you want to cry. It makes you want to jump up in excitement. I didn't have words at the time.”
Chad now shares everything he can with other aspiring athletes, including the triumph and pride he felt when he finally stood on a professional football field.
When you’re standing at the line, you look straight down the field, and you’re thinking, ‘This is it’… And you just take one deep breath, get set, and then you’re going.
Chad Muma
Today, Chad is part of a small group of active professional players with T1D who share their stories to reshape perspectives and empower people with type 1 diabetes to thrive.
"I think it's amazing because I'm able to communicate with those other players [who] have type one diabetes and bounce ideas off of how they manage their blood sugar throughout the game and what they do," said Chad.
The Tandem difference
Chad’s desire to be a role model and support people with diabetes played a key role in learning about the t:slim X2 insulin pump from Tandem Diabetes Care, the #1 rated insulin pump.1 He connected with a young fan after noticing their pump, then reached out to his healthcare provider to learn more about the features and capabilities the t:slim X2 pump offers.
“I don't think I would be where I'm at today without a device like the Tandem [pump]," Chad said. "And the Tandem support team is such a great system, and they’re able to really support and give you all that you need. I agree that it's really number one for a reason, and I think it kind of gives you that peace of mind when you're using it.”
One of Chad’s favorite features of the t:slim X2 pump is the freedom to disconnect.
“I'll go out to practice, I'll disconnect from my site," said Chad. "It's easy to plug right back in and get myself insulin if I need it at that time.”
Training the t1d rookies
Chad takes every opportunity he can to meet and inspire young athletes with T1D.
"It's not easy to have type one diabetes and be a full-time professional athlete," said Chad. "It’s tremendous because I feel like I now have that responsibility to inspire other, younger generations that have those same dreams, whether it’s in the NFL or if it’s in a different career … They’re able to see that I was able to do it, and so now, I want to be an inspiration for them, that they can go achieve any goals that they really have."
He uses his experiences to help educate others about living with T1D and dispel the myths that surround it.
"I feel like I'll always want to be an open book for those that want to learn about type one diabetes," Chad admits. "I think that educating people can really benefit the type one diabetes community."
He also uses humor to be the friend that other people living with T1D might need.
"Any jokes they want to tell me, I love hearing them as well."
Thank you for sharing your diabetes journey with us, Chad!
Tandem Diabetes Care has a compensation agreement with Chad Muma.
Note: From time to time, we may pass along suggestions, tips, or information about other Tandem insulin pump user experiences or approaches to the management of diabetes. Please note, however, individual symptoms, situations, circumstances, and results may vary. Please consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding your condition and appropriate medical treatment. Please read the Important Safety Information before using a Tandem Diabetes Care product.
References
1. dQ&A US Patient Panel Q3 2023 (July-Sept. 2023)
Important Safety Information: RX ONLY. The t:slim X2 insulin pump with interoperable technology is an alternate controller enabled (ACE) pump that is intended for the subcutaneous delivery of insulin, at set and variable rates, for the management of diabetes mellitus in people requiring insulin. The pump is able to reliably and securely communicate with compatible, digitally connected devices, including automated insulin dosing software, to receive, execute, and confirm commands from these devices. The pump is indicated for use in individuals 6 years of age and greater. The pump is intended for single patient, home use and requires a prescription. The pump is indicated for use with NovoLog or Humalog U-100 insulin. Users of the pump must: be willing and able to use the insulin pump and all other system components in accordance with their respective instructions for use; test blood glucose levels as recommended by their healthcare provider; demonstrate adequate carb-counting skills; maintain sufficient diabetes self-care skills; see healthcare provider(s) regularly; and have adequate vision and/or hearing to recognize all functions of the pump, including alerts. The t:slim X2 pump must be removed before MRI, CT, or diathermy treatment. Visit tandemdiabetes.com/safetyinfo for additional important safety information.