How to Start Advocating on Your Terms

When you’re diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D), it can be an overwhelming life change. It may also bring to light health equity, discrimination and access-to-care issues that many people in the United States continue to face. This eye-opening information may give you a new sense of purpose—to advocate for those impacted by diabetes.

Patient advocacy is crucially important today. There are many battles to be won for people with diabetes in public spaces, to access the tools and medications they need and to not be discriminated against in public places. Many people want to get involved in diabetes patient advocacy but often don’t know where to start.

Whether you’re ready to meet with your member of Congress, or if you prefer to stay engaged from the comfort of your own home, getting involved is easy. Here are a few ways you can start advocating today—find one that fits your needs!

How to get involved in advocacy

One organization that has been blazing the trail in type 1 diabetes advocacy aside from Beyond Type 1 is Breakthrough T1D. Their mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to prevent, treat and one day cure type 1 diabetes .

Getting involved in diabetes advocacy is easy and advocacy can meet you where you are–on your terms. Here are a few ways to get involved with BT1 or Breakthrough T1D that have different levels of commitment.

• Learn more + stay updated
• Engage on social media
• Reach out to members of Congress
• Join advocate programs
• Attend a Children’s Congress

Learn more + stay updated

You can sign up with Breakthrough T1D to receive updates and make your voice heard. Right from your email inbox, you will receive policy, research and the latest news updates. You’ll also learn about opportunities where you can get more involved in the work Breakthrough T1D does to advance its mission.

You can also sign up for the BT1 newsletter and download our app to receive regular advocacy and community updates!

Staying informed is easy and there’s no commitment necessary!

Engage on social media

Another easy way to get started with advocacy is doing what you probably already do—engage on social media!

Using the hashtags #I’mTheType and #MyGreatestSupporter on social media can help spread awareness of diabetes and educate others on the condition. Plus, it can help you meet others who are living and thriving with diabetes as well!

If you’re looking to learn more about diabetes, follow the hashtag #DiaBasics. You can also engage online by pursuing companies that donate a portion of sales to diabetes research.

Additionally, you can use a Breakthrough T1D Facebook frame for a profile picture. You can also create your own T1D Footprint. This will share how many days lived, finger pricks and injections taken and hours of sleep you’ve lost since being diagnosed with diabetes!

Sharing BT1’s #SeeTheSigns hashtag on your social media platforms will also go the extra mile to educate others on the signs of T1D.

Reach out to your members of Congress

Breakthrough T1D is currently supporting the INSULIN Act, which would cap the monthly cost of insulin at $35 on all commercial health plans. It would also bring relief to the uninsured by addressing systemic problems that have caused the insulin pricing crisis.

Breakthrough T1D is urging diabetes advocates across the country to contact their US Senators to support this critical piece of legislation that was introduced earlier this year by Senate Diabetes Caucus Co-chairs Jeanne Shaheen and Susan Collins.

Insulin is still far too expensive for many Americans. In fact, as of last year, over one million Americans were rationing their insulin due to cost alone. This can have deadly consequences.

Telling your US Senators to support this legislation is as easy as quickly filling out a form and can save lives.

Join advocate programs

Advocates in Action Council (AAC)

The Advocates in Action Council (AAC) is a group for young adults with T1D between the ages of 18-26. These students, community leaders and business professionals spread awareness, inspire others and make a difference in the lives of those with diabetes.

Engagement includes:

• Joining monthly calls
• Partnering with local advocacy leaders to support or create new advocacy committees
• Supporting Breakthrough T1D’s advocate recruitment efforts
• Participating in local Breakthrough T1D events
• Mentoring diabetes youth
• Completing an annual community service project

With terms beginning in January, the AAC application is open now until November 30. To apply, for questions, or more information, email [email protected]

#SeeTheSigns Ambassadors

Help save lives and become a community #SeeTheSigns Ambassador! Tragically, 1 in 3 people with T1D are lost due to the missed signs of T1D or because they lack access to diagnostic and critical care.

However, you can help change that by signing up and sharing the classic symptoms of T1D with your larger network as an ambassador. After signing up, you’ll receive a complete toolkit with social media graphics and posters for sharing to help you spread awareness of the signs and symptoms of T1D.

Becoming an ambassador with an organization is a bit more commitment but there’s usually a great network of people to help and support you! (It’s also a great way to make other T1D friends!)

Attend a Children’s Congress

Every two years, more than 160 children living with T1D between the ages of 4-17 get together in Washington, DC for Breakthrough T1D’s Children’s Congress. There, they meet with members of Congress to inspire and educate them about the reality of living with this chronic disease.

Members of Congress, some of the most influential people in the country, learn firsthand how difficult life with diabetes can be. After Children’s Congress they’re often inspired to support legislation that can and does improve our lives!

New advocates are chosen to attend each time, so check out the Children’s Congress and apply!

No matter how you engage in diabetes advocacy, the most important thing is that you make your voice heard and that you’re comfortable doing so! Whatever level of engagement you start with is great and contributes to the goal of improving the lives of everyone living with diabetes.

Editor’s Note: This resource was created in partnership with Breakthrough T1D, an active partner of Beyond Type 1 at the time of publication, through the Breakthrough T1D – Beyond Type 1 Alliance.