Companion Cards
Co-designed by healthcare professionals and people living with type 1 diabetes
What’s in the toolkit?
The toolkit is made up of 52 cards grouped into 6 sets that explore the multiple facets of
living with Type 1 diabetes. They serve as a friendly introduction for someone recently diagnosed, a novel refresher for the more seasoned, and an engaging invitation to anyone
with an interest in learning about this chronic condition.
Explore, listen & reflect on your own
Share, educate and spark conversation with friends and family
Discuss and get targeted support from your clinic
What people are saying:
“My dad didn't know how to talk about my diagnosis so acted like it didn’t exist. These cards spread out on the kitchen table gave us a place to start."
— Jenny Martins, living with Type 1 diabetes, Manchester
Each diagnosis is as unique as the person experiencing it
We've organised the toolkit into non-linear, stage appropriate sets, so people can pick their learning path by what matters to them most.
No topic off the table
With Type 1 diabetes there are good days, where you feel like you’ve got this and taming the “sugar wave” is a breeze. But then there are dark days, where nothing you do seems to work and it all feels too much.
We believe you can’t have light without dark and that the key to living well with Type 1 diabetes is in being comfortable in both.
Explore the Companion Card topics
T1D? Carb counting? Boluses and CGMs? No acronyms no jargon, just the basics clearly explained.
Feeling burnt out chasing perfect numbers, and still swinging high to low? Playing pancreas is an art.
The journey from diagnosis to acceptance, dealing with burnout and celebrating decades of T1D.
Too old for diabetes? A diabetic diet? Something we did? Let’s set the record straight.
Feeling isolated and like no one gets it? Discover a community and build a support circle that has your back.
Can I run, travel, party, date, start a family or be a pilot? Let’s challenge the limitations that are important to you.
"The visuals bring an invisible condition to life,
I find myself nodding, sighing and laughing in recognition."
- David Hocking, living with Type 1 diabetes, Edinburgh
The cards in detail
Each set is colour coded and starts with a topic overview card so you know what to expect
Short and sweet explanations accompany each card so you can feel like you have an answer to everything
Getting to grips with all that T1D throws at you is a full time job - that’s why we’ve included medically endorsed prompts and cheat sheets to help build a resilient mindset
Because nothing beats hearing from people who have been there, done it, lived it.
Each card links to a collection of recorded audio clips curated from the Type 1 diabetes community. Scan the QR code to hear personal stories, reactions or hacks on the topic. Updated regularity as our community grows.
