Racing Against the Odds: Dylan Archer’s Triumph Over Type 1 Diabetes

Dylan Archer • March 8, 2024

TL;DR:

Dylan Archer was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at age 8, just a few years after discovering his love for go-kart racing. Despite the challenges of learning to manage blood sugar, technology, and a new daily routine, Dylan refused to give up his dream of racing. With support from his family and care team at the Barbara Davis Center, he continued competing, eventually winning his first championship in 2022 and earning a national podium finish in 2024. Dylan’s story shows that type 1 diabetes doesn’t have to stop kids from pursuing their passions.

A young boy in a yellow jacket is holding a trophy

Discovering a Love for Racing at a Young Age

Hi, my name is Dylan Archer and I have type 1 diabetes, and I LOVE to race! Type 1 is NOT stopping me!

When I was 5 years old, way back in 2013, Dad picked me up from school, and (as usual) we started talking about racing. Dad started racing when he was 16, and we often talked about how much fun it was. Well, this conversation ended a bit differently because Dad asked if I was ready! I got my first go-kart that summer, and in no time, I was hooked! It was a little scary at first, but once I started to go fast I sure had fun! For the first couple of years of racing, I was reaching for the stars. That first trophy made me feel so good, and I knew that I had to get more!



A Life-Changing Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis

But then in 2016, I wasn’t feeling so good, so Mom took me to the doctor. Turns out I had type 1 diabetes. Wow, I wasn’t ready for that news (and neither was my family). It turned my whole world upside down. We had to figure out a way to manage this unexpected, scary thing that was happening to me.


Lucky for me, the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes was the place to be. So many amazing people helped me! They knew exactly how to tell me that my life was forever going to be changed, and they promised me that they were going to teach me how to manage type 1 while still being able to get out on the track and get more trophies!


That first year was sure rough on me and my family. Trying to deal with the scary highs and lows was awful, and a typical 8-year-old doesn’t give two thoughts to how many carbs are in that candy bar they want to eat. It was just overwhelming, but the great folks at the Barbara Davis Center were there every step of the way.


Learning to Manage Type 1 Diabetes as a Young Athlete

Racing was tough, too, that year. We were still trying to wrap our heads around managing my numbers and using the Dexcom. But I didn’t let that stand in my way. It was hard on my parents – I was the first in my entire family to ever have type 1. They were scared too, but they still supported me being out on the track, chasing my dreams.


As the days turned into weeks, months, and years, things got easier, and I got faster! Defeat is not a word in MY world, and I was not going to let type 1 defeat me either! I worked hard at both racing and managing type 1 and kept my goals in sight. The trophies started coming easier, and I found myself on the top of the podium more often. Finally in 2022 – six years after I was diagnosed – I achieved one of my earliest goals. I won my first championship! And my friends at Barbara Davis Center were there helping me every step of the way!

The amazing folks at the Barbara Davis Center have taught us how to control my type 1. My family and I work around type 1 by using my Dexcom and Omnipod to monitor me while I am on the track. Our tools help us to make sure that I am in a good, healthy range to perform safely and strongly.

A person is riding a go kart on a track.
A man standing next to a boy wearing a green jacket that says skeptic

Now, in 2024, I am starting a new chapter in my racing career. I am so grateful that the Children’s Diabetes Foundation has chosen to partner with us as a sponsor, and in February this year, I brought home my first podium as a national competitor with a third place finish at the Challenge of the Americas race in Tucson! Type 1 is NOT gonna stop me!!!

Three people standing on a podium with a banner that says challenge america
A young boy in a white sweater is standing next to a cabinet.

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Two girl scouts are standing next to each other in a room filled with boxes.

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Type 1 Diabetes teenager on soccer field

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A picture of a mountain with a white circle in the middle.

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Type 1 teenager and her mother on a golf course

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