T1International

Last month, at the 79th World Health Assembly, T1International’s Regional Advocacy Consultant for the Middle East and North Africa, Ali, was a speaker on the panel "Enabling Digital Health Systems for Health Equity."

Ali shared his views on the urgent need for equitable digital health systems, and on the meaningful involvement of people with lived experience in shaping fair, inclusive, and patient-centred healthcare. He discussed the barriers to equity in digital health, emphasising that digital tools are often treated as add-ons rather than essential components of care. As a result, they are often accessible to wealthier patients, while remaining a luxury for many people from marginalized communities. Ali advocated for the importance of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in diabetes management, highlighting how it can be life-changing, yet remains unaffordable and inaccessible for many people living with type 1 diabetes.

Ali has led a successful, ongoing campaign to reduce the prices of continuous glucose monitors in Egypt and make them more affordable and accessible. Learn more about Ali’s work on CGM access in Egypt here: https://buff.ly/0Mni5Py

Heather joined T1International's Board of Trustees as Treasurer in 2020 and has been a fundamental part of ensuring we adhere to the highest standard of financial transparency and best practices. As her term comes to an end, we are so grateful for all the time and expertise she has devoted to T1International's staff, board, and mission.

Without data, even the most urgent problems remain invisible to decision-makers. Meet Katarina: physician, Professor of Digital Health, and T1International Research Fellow for the fourth time. She has watched this research evolve from documenting a problem into a tool communities use to demand change. Every gift matched dollar for dollar until May 31: https://buff.ly/GP54eSK

Five days left to make a 2x matched gift. Meet Amira: PhD candidate, Peace Corps volunteer, woman with type 1 diabetes, and T1International Research Fellow. She is not outside looking in. She is inside, doing the work. Every gift matched dollar for dollar until May 31. https://buff.ly/GP54eSK

From Rio de Janeiro to Pakistan to Kenya, the barriers change, the prices change, the health systems change, but the core problem does not. People who need insulin to survive are being priced out, left out, and left behind. Meet Juliana, T1International Research Fellow and engineer, one of thirteen women from seven countries leading our survey team this year. Every gift is matched dollar for dollar until May 31st to support our research and advocacy. https://buff.ly/GP54eSK

What gets measured can be changed. For over a decade, our Out-of-Pocket Expenses and Rationing Survey has been putting numbers to the real cost of living with diabetes around the world, and those numbers have moved systems. This year, thirteen women Research Fellows from seven countries will conduct the sixth survey. To support our research and advocacy, every gift is matched dollar for dollar by our board until May 31. Give and to meet our fellows before the survey launches in June: https://buff.ly/GP54eSK

One in three people who relies on insulin to survive rations it. Not by choice, but because they have no other option. Meet Research Fellow Iqra, one of thirteen women from seven countries conducting our sixth Out-of-Pocket Expenses and Rationing Survey, and learn how your gift, doubled until May 31st, helps change this reality. And if you’re living with diabetes be sure to fill out our survey when it launches next month- we need your voice to make sure we have the most complete story of insulin access around the world, as people are experiencing right now. Swipe to read Iqra’s story. Learn more and donate: https://buff.ly/GP54eSK

105 years ago today, insulin was discovered and millions of lives became possible. Today, one in three people who rely on insulin to survive still ration it. It is not a supply problem. It is a justice problem. Tomorrow we kick off our spring fundraiser to support the patient-led research and advocacy changing that. Learn more at https://buff.ly/GP54eSK

People living with type 1 diabetes deserve access to quality, modern, dignified care, no matter where they live.

As the World Health Organization finalizes its Type 1 Diabetes Treatment Guidelines, we’re calling on them to be sure to include insulin analogues and insulin pens in their recommendations, as they are on the Essential Medicines List.

Your signature, and your story, can help show why this level of diabetes care is a necessity, not a luxury.

Sign the petition before Monday, May 25: https://buff.ly/zr6UBbk

So many people find us and realize for the first time: what I've been doing has a name. It's called rationing.

According to our 2024 Out-of-Pocket Expenses and Rationing survey, 1 in 3 people are rationing their insulin.

Our community is fighting to change this reality, because we believe that everyone deserves accessible and affordable insulin and diabetes supplies.