Stephanie Pearson, Senior Director of Global Responsibility, Breakthrough T1D
James Reid, Program Officer, Type 1 Diabetes, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
For someone living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), a day is measured not just in hours, but in moments — checking blood sugar, taking insulin, carefully tracking meals. Too often, these moments are overshadowed by worry that supplies might run out.
Despite remarkable progress in diabetes research and treatment, millions of people still face significant barriers to care. Insulin, monitoring supplies, and comprehensive support are out of reach for nearly 80% of people with T1D in low- and middle-income countries, putting their health and lives at risk.
On World Diabetes Day, we officially launched ALIGN-T1D, a global Alliance bringing together the Helmsley Charitable Trust, Breakthrough T1D, and partners from across sectors to ensure people living with T1D can access the care they need.
The Challenge We’re Facing
Nearly 10 million people live with T1D worldwide, yet a child diagnosed in a high-income country may live decades longer than one in a low-income setting. This gap exists not because the condition is untreatable, but because the tools to manage it are inaccessible.
During the launch, Gina Agiostratidou from Helmsley explained, “Our goal is simple but ambitious: to ensure that every person living with T1D, no matter where they live, can access the care, supplies, and support they need.”
ALIGN-T1D is not creating new programs from scratch. We are connecting partners who have the resources and expertise to make a difference, while prioritizing local leadership and the voices of people living with T1D. By working together, there is an opportunity to create synergies between investments and identify gaps that are holding back progress.
A Cross-Sector Approach
No single partner can solve this challenge alone. In a panel, moderated by Femi Oke, longstanding champions of T1D care discussed why it is so important that working across sectors is at the core of the Alliance’s approach.
Herb Riband, Senior Advisor at the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations, highlighted ALIGN-T1D as a new kind of collaboration. The Alliance creates a space for government, civil society, and the private sector to work together as responsible partners. “We don’t have to reinvent the wheel, but we need to find ways to concentrate our efforts on the key gaps that people face in accessing quality diabetes care,” said Mr. Riband.
Dr. Neil Gupta from the NCDI Poverty Network shared insights on how integrated care models like PEN-Plus connect to the Alliance’s strategy. PEN-Plus equips local health workers at district-level hospitals to deliver patient-centered care for severe noncommunicable diseases like T1D. Dr. Gupta emphasized that by strengthening health systems and embedding T1D services into primary care, we can reach more people and deliver care that lasts.
Sanjana Marpadga from the World Health Organization reminded us that government leadership is what makes progress last. Platforms like WHO’s Global Diabetes Compact help countries measure what is working and stay focused on shared goals. ALIGN-T1D aims to build on this momentum by harmonizing efforts with WHO technical guidance, existing government commitments, and shared global targets for diabetes.
The Voices That Matter Most
What really brought the event to life were the contributions from people navigating T1D every day.
Throughout the launch event, community representatives and T1D advocates Nupur Lalvani, Tinotenda Dzikiti, Sana Ajmal, and Mark Barone shared how their perspectives helped define ALIGN-T1D’s priorities. These advocates were instrumental in making the sure the Alliance is grounded in the realities of living with T1D.
Naomi Mwila, a T1D advocate from Zambia, gave us perhaps the most powerful moment of the day. She spoke about her journey to diagnosis and managing daily life with T1D.
Talking about the early days after her T1D diagnosis, Ms. Mwila said, “I couldn’t inject myself. I couldn’t even check my sugar levels because I didn’t accept [the diagnosis]…Later on, I accepted it and started taking insulin. Ever since that day, I’ve been living a normal life, a healthy life.”
Naomi’s story underscored a theme that was echoed throughout the event: getting insulin and supplies to someone is only part of the solution. True access means people living with T1D having the confidence, education, and local support system to manage their health every day.
What Comes Next
The launch was just the start. ALIGN-T1D is designed for the long haul — aligning strategies, mobilizing resources, and integrating care in ways that can scale and last.
Lasting impact is possible when entire systems move together with clear goals and accountability to the communities we serve. We are hopeful that this new Alliance will help build an ecosystem where reliable care becomes normal, not exceptional.
We are committed to making sure every moment for every person living with T1D is safer, more supported, and full of possibility.