Bailey McDonald: "A Diagnosis Will Change Your Life"

In January 2024, Bailey received a life-changing diagnosis. At just 21 years old, he was beginning his professional cycling journey after signing a contract with Team Bridgelane in his home country of Australia. However, after feeling ill for a few days, a trip to the hospital changed the course of his life. "You have type 1 diabetes”.

The uncertainty overwhelmed him as his world began to unravel. But with every setback, Bailey pushed through and learned valuable lessons. He made mistakes and faced challenges as he started to navigate his new reality.

Within six months of his diagnosis, Bailey discovered Team Novo Nordisk, signed a professional contract, and stepped into his childhood dream of being a professional cyclist. Even though he continues to learn how to manage life with type 1 diabetes, he knows it doesn’t define him and will never stop him from pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. 

For Bailey, managing type 1 diabetes isn't just part of his routine—it's woven into most decisions he makes, both on and off the bike. The condition requires constant attention and a proactive mindset.

• Daily insulin therapy—is essential to keep blood glucose levels within a safe range¹
• Frequent monitoring, sometimes dozens of times a day, helps Bailey make rapid adjustments during long rides, races, or intense training sessions
• Managing diabetes requires careful planning and constant awareness during competition²

Nutrition plays a central role: carbohydrate intake must be carefully balanced with insulin, activity levels, and timing³. Resources like Team Novo Nordisk Cookbook provide recipes for athletes living with diabetes, and everyone else, offering guidance on how to fuel the body for endurance while keeping blood sugar stable.

Bailey McDonald is part of something bigger than himself: Team Novo Nordisk. Behind every jersey on Team Novo Nordisk is a powerful story of resilience and ambition. Each team member is living proof that a type 1 diabetes diagnosis doesn't stop you from chasing—and achieving—your goals. These athletes manage their condition every day while training, traveling, and racing at the highest level of the sport.

The team's mission is to inspire, educate and empower those affected by diabetes, showing that a type 1 diabetes diagnosis does not define or limit you.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune condition where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas⁴. Insulin is the hormone responsible for regulating blood glucose levels and allowing sugar from food to enter the body's cells for energy. Without insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, leading to serious health complications⁵.

Unlike type 2 diabetes, which typically develops later in life and is often linked to lifestyle factors like diet, weight, and physical activity, type 1 diabetes is not caused by lifestyle and usually appears in childhood or early adulthood⁵.

While type 1 diabetes is most commonly diagnosed in children between the ages of 4 to 7 or 10 to 14, it can appear at any age—as it did for Bailey at 21⁶. This later diagnosis brought unique challenges, as he had to quickly adapt his established training routines and professional aspirations to accommodate his new reality.

While the exact cause of type 1 diabetes is still unknown, researchers have identified several factors that may increase the risk:

• Family history plays a role—individuals with a parent or sibling who has type 1 are statistically more likely to develop the condition⁷
• Certain genes are linked to the development of the disease, although having them doesn't guarantee a diagnosis⁷
• Age factors vary, but the condition can develop at any stage of life⁷
• Multifactorial Nature: The development of T1D is complex and multifactorial, meaning that while genetics play a role, environmental factors also significantly contribute to the onset of the disease⁸

Bailey's journey from diagnosis to Team Novo Nordisk professional cyclist demonstrates that with the right support, determination, and medical management, athletes can continue pursuing their goals while managing type 1 diabetes.