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JDRF has now rebranded to Breakthrough T1D.
Our name has changed, our mission has not.

Report

Access For All: The Impact of Technology on the Lives of People with Type 1 Diabetes

Our Access For All report examines how people with type 1 diabetes access technology such as hybrid closed loop.
Content last reviewed and updated: 29.10.2024

Our latest report builds upon our 2019 Pathway to Choice report as a benchmark, examining how people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) access technology.

Five years on, there has been progress in people’s access and use of these technologies, although significant challenges remain.

Our market research shows that increasing awareness and adoption of technology can dramatically improve the quality of life of people living with T1D, and in turn reduce complications further down the line.

Breakthrough T1D commissioned quantitative and qualitative market research to understand the motivations and barriers people with T1D face in making treatment choices.

The Access For All report

The findings of our Access For All report, launched in October 2024, will enable us to better understand the ways in which people in the T1D community learn of technological treatment options, the barriers faced in accessing these options, and how they can be overcome.

The market research also highlighted areas in which government, the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS can improve support for people living with this life-changing condition.

Download Access For All report

Our recommendations

Recommendations for Hybrid Closed Loop

Increase awareness of hybrid closed loop (HCL): Our report shows that many people, especially those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, have low awareness of HCL. It’s important to promote this technology and inform people with type 1 about their eligibility for the device.

Ensure that everyone who needs and could benefit from HCL is part of the national rollout: Limited availability of devices on the NHS is a significant barrier for people living with type 1 diabetes. Interest in new technologies is high, especially among those currently not eligible. Addressing these gaps is essential to providing equitable access for all.

Comprehensive training for all healthcare professionals involved in the rollout of HCL: Trust in healthcare professionals is high, so leveraging training and education from medical technology providers is essential. This will ensure both healthcare professionals and people with type 1 diabetes are well-informed and supported.

Recommendations for early detection

Establish a national diabetes registry: Modelled on Scotland’s SCI Diabetes database, a national diabetes registry would track the adoption of type 1 diabetes technology, record spending for prescribed devices, and provide regional health outcome statistics. This would enable clinicians to access patient data within a single system. Additionally, the registry could track which healthcare professionals are trained in specific type 1 diabetes technologies.

Establish a national early detection programme for type 1 diabetes: The UK is already lagging behind other countries when it comes to screening for type 1 diabetes. With treatments to delay the onset of type 1 on the horizon, a comprehensive early detection programme is essential to identify and support people at risk and in the early stages of type 1 diabetes.

Embed post-screening monitoring and ongoing support for those who test positive for biological markers of type 1 diabetes: This approach will help reduce the risk of DKA at diagnosis and minimise short and long-term complications.

Recommendations for future treatments

Drugs that delay the onset of type 1 diabetes must be approved by NICE and rolled out for use on the NHS: Every moment a person can delay dependence on insulin represents a critical opportunity to avoid complications and the burdens of life with type 1. This can also play a key role in preventing complications such as eye, kidney and heart diseases.

For children at risk of type 1 who are approaching adolescence, delaying the onset of type 1 would allow their pancreas to grow to adult size, giving better disease outcomes.

Improve patient education and involvement in emerging therapies for type 1 diabetes: People living with type 1 are eager for information about new therapies, but awareness of the full range of current treatments remains relatively low. As new options emerge, navigating different treatments may become even more complex for both people with type 1 diabetes and their healthcare teams.

Research efforts must prioritise involving people with type 1 diabetes to understand their information needs and perceptions of risks and benefits of emerging therapies. Clinical pathways should be developed to support informed choice and decision-making.

Raise awareness of clinical trials to help the development of future treatments for type 1: We must increase participation in clinical trials to significantly accelerate the discovery and validation of new therapies, ultimately improving the quality of life for people living with the
condition.

Efforts should focus on educating people about the importance of clinical trials, the potential benefits of participation, and addressing common concerns and misconceptions.

Healthcare providers, advocacy groups and research institutions must collaborate to create accessible resources and communication strategies that emphasise ongoing trials and their potential impact on advancing treatments.

This survey report was conceived, developed and led by Breakthrough T1D under its Access For All programme which is sponsored by Abbott, Dexcom and Insulet. Sanofi provided funding to Breakthrough T1D to support costs associated with this research and report but had no influence or editorial involvement in the project or its outputs.