T1International does not disseminate diabetes supplies, but we know oganisations that do.
Insulin for Life is a not-for-profit organisation that collects and distributes in-date insulin and other diabetes supplies that would otherwise be wasted. These are donated to recognised organisations in many countries, with agreed monitoring systems, on an ongoing, sustainable basis, and following emergencies.
In the US, Mutual Aid Diabetes is a 100% volunteer community-based resource hub providing peer support, funds redistribution, and supply sharing.
We cannot accommodate individual requests for insulin and diabetes supplies, but our mission is advocate until everyone with diabetes has long-term access to their insulin, supplies, medical care, and other support.
Where possible, we can try to connect you with local organizations who may be able to support you. If you are in the US and in need of insulin access, see our resource guide.
We advocate for and support people with type 1 diabetes all around the world. We want people everywhere with all types of diabetes to have access to everything they need to live a healthy life.
We are a global organization and have connections and partners in lots of different countries. We’re continually adding to our worldwide type 1 map tool, which you can explore to learn about life with type 1 in other places. Don’t see your country? Make sure to get in touch so we can include it.
T1International is a patient-led organization. This means we are committed to having patients in leadership and on our team. Most importantly, it means that our work is driven by the needs and priorities of a deep and wide variety of patient perspectives within the diabetes community. After a 6 month community-led process we updated one of our values from patient-centered to patient-led. This change was a result of direct and extensive community feedback and a majority desire for patient-led to be the chosen term. What does it mean for an organization to be both patient-led and be an organization and community that welcomes patients, parents, partners, allies and everyone to our work? It means we are nuanced. The forces that shape our lives and communities are interrelated, therefore our team and community must reflect that. Patient-led is one of our values because our strategies, our advocacy and our mission is driven by those most impacted: people living with diabetes, also known as patients. We embody this value through building out processes to incorporate the feedback of patients into the decision making structure of our organisation at every level. In that way, we also center patients.
Across our materials and in our communications, you’ll see us use both patient-centered and patient-led. We believe there is no wrong path for patients to participate in our work, and there are many paths we take. The work we do is led by the needs of patients, amplifies the voices of patients (including via caregivers of people living with diabetes), and builds the leadership skills and capacity of patients and allies to advocate for their own needs. Our work centers the impact of patients in our strategies, and it builds understanding so that those who aren’t patients can empathise and center the needs of patients. We encourage allies to pass the figurative microphone to patients so that people living with diabetes and their experiences are always leading the way, rather than being pitied or saved. The lived experience of patients will always be our guiding compass.
We support people of all ages living with type 1 diabetes. We know that type 1 diabetes does not go away. Even if someone is diagnosed as a child, they will have it for the rest of their life. Many people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as adults, too, so it is important that we support every single person living with type 1 diabetes, no matter what age they are.
Our advocacy is a fight for affordable insulin for all, not only people with type 1 diabetes. T1International was founded and is run by people with type 1 diabetes due to the life and death nature of the insulin and supplies we need, and the fact that people with type 1 diabetes are often forgotten and not represented around the world. That said, we genuinely want to fight together with folks of all ages living with type 2 diabetes, and other types of diabetes, as well.
We believe in health justice and health equity. That includes all types of diabetes and all other health conditions. We are passionate about collaborative working, and are always looking for ways that we can support other niche health organizations to further shared goals and offer encouragement.
It is our priority to be able to speak out and push for change, so we do not accept money from pharmaceutical companies or any other body that we feel might influence our ability to do this. We will always be transparent about where our money comes from and what we spend it on.
T1International exists thanks to the support of the following:
- AF Jochnick Foundation
- Arnold Ventures
- Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center
- International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (Robert Carr Fund)
- Joffe Charitable Trust
- JustPax Fund
- McPike-Zima Foundation
- The Souter Charitable Trust
- Universal Healthcare Foundation of Connecticut
If you’re interested in making a donation, visit our donation page. To discuss grants or other funding opportunities, email globalgiving@t1international.com.
To learn more about T1International's finances, visit this page.
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