Raegan Lantz was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in eighth grade.
Lantz is from Holland, Michigan, but she started playing volleyball in the fourth grade at the San Antonio YMCA, nicknamed “The Alamo.” By the time she was diagnosed, she had her heart set on playing at the collegiate level.
“My oldest brother also has type one, so I knew what it was,” Lantz said. “But I never really thought of it as like, ‘Oh, this is going to mean that I can’t play college anymore, or I can’t reach that goal.’”
And she did. She is now a junior human capital and leadership major and member of the Miami University volleyball team.
Lantz worked tirelessly throughout high school to manage her diabetes while pursuing her athletic dreams. Her efforts paid off when she earned a scholarship to play Division I volleyball.
In high school, she faced adversity when recruiters expressed interest in her talents. To avoid any potential bias, she hid the equipment she used to manage her diabetes during tryouts.
At the end of the recruitment process, Lantz chose Miami because of its small-town feel, successful volleyball team and well-rounded education. Her coaches, trainers and teammates have all supported her since starting at Miami.
Lantz said she now uses her Division I volleyball player status to raise awareness for other college athletes who are managing type one diabetes.
“I think a lot more people need to know, anyone with an autoimmune disease in general, doesn’t have to stop them in any way,” Lantz said. “I think it’s just essential to see collegiate athletes doing the tough things, being as busy as we are, but still being able to do it even with our type one.”
Lantz’s teammate, Chelsea Williams, said she has seen firsthand the hard work that Lantz has put into increasing awareness around type one diabetes.
“She has made her situation into such a great thing. She posts on TikTok and Instagram and has learned to use her platform as a Division I athlete so well,” Williams said. “I think she is super awesome.”
Last season, Lantz helped lead Miami’s first diabetes awareness volleyball tournament. At the tournament, QR codes to encourage donations to organizations that support patients with type one diabetes were displayed, along with information to help break stigmas around type one. In addition, hats were sent from Dexcom and given to people in the stands.
Dexcom is the continuous glucose monitoring system Lantz has used throughout her day-to-day life and during her volleyball games to help her monitor her glucose levels quickly. She can even sync her Dexcom to her Apple Watch to monitor her glucose levels without leaving games or practices.
Lantz said she strives to continue raising awareness and beating the stigma around type one diabetes in collegiate sports. She looks forward to helping host another diabetes awareness tournament in future years.
“Learn how to persevere and build that perseverance because it can help you do many things and will serve you in life in every aspect,” Lantz said.
