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

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

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

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