Understanding Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the pancreas stops producing insulin. It is not caused by diet, exercise or obesity. It is not preventable, it has no cure, and lifelong insulin is the only treatment.
What managing T1D actually takes
Every single day. Without a break, a holiday, or a day off.
insulin injections every day
finger-prick glucose checks daily
night-time monitoring, even while asleep
calculations around food, activity and stress
Parents and children live with continuous anxiety, fearing dangerous highs and lows that can occur without warning.
Myths and facts
Misinformation costs families time, money and sometimes lives.
Type 1 Diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar.
FactIt is an autoimmune condition. Nothing about diet, exercise, weight or parenting causes it. Anyone can develop Type 1 Diabetes.
It is the same as Type 2 Diabetes.
FactThey are different conditions with different causes. Type 1 requires insulin from the day of diagnosis, for life.
It can be reversed with diet, yoga or alternative medicine.
FactThere is no cure. Stopping insulin is life-threatening. Anyone promising a cure is putting a life at risk.
Children with T1D cannot study, play sport or work normally.
FactWith good management they can do anything. Our own General Secretary is an ultra-marathoner who has lived with T1D since 2002.
A child with T1D is a burden on a school.
FactChildren with T1D need only understanding, a safe place to test and inject, and permission to eat when needed. We run free awareness sessions for schools.
Insulin is optional if sugar levels look normal.
FactNormal readings are the result of insulin working. Skipping doses leads rapidly to ketoacidosis, a medical emergency.
India - A Growing Crisis
- Over 1 million people in India live with Type 1 Diabetes — the world's highest number — rising at roughly 6.7% a year.
- Surviving costs ₹7,000–₹10,000 a month for insulin and supplies, which is out of reach for many families.
- 60–70% of families struggle to access consistent treatment, leading to complications and avoidable loss of life.
Type 1 Diabetes is often invisible. Children are denied school admissions, adults face workplace discrimination, and families carry stigma, financial burden and emotional stress every single day.
What it would cost to fix
Treating one person with Type 1 Diabetes through the public health system — insulin, strips, syringes and lancets for a full year — costs
per patient, per year. That is the entire argument we take to state governments.
See the full costingHow to actually help
Do not offer cures
Well-meaning advice about herbs, diets or "reversal" causes real harm. Ask how they manage instead, and listen.
Make schools safe
A child needs a private place to test and inject, permission to eat when low, and a teacher who knows the signs of hypoglycaemia.
Connect them to us
A newly diagnosed family should never be alone. Send them here — membership is free and support starts immediately.
Commonly asked
Is Type 1 Diabetes caused by lifestyle?
No. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the pancreas stops producing insulin. It is not caused by diet, exercise or obesity, it is not preventable, and it has no cure. The only treatment is lifelong insulin.
Can my child attend school normally?
Yes. Children with Type 1 Diabetes can and should attend school like any other child. We conduct awareness sessions for schools and can support you if your child faces difficulty with admission or care during school hours.
Newly diagnosed? Start here.
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