On Saturday 12 September, we had the pleasure of joining the Type 1 Diabetes community at the Breakthrough T1D Discovery Day at the London School of Economics.

It was a fantastic opportunity for the MedicAlert team to meet people living with Type 1 Diabetes, hear their stories and connect with families at all different stages of their journey.

Putting people and families first

One of the biggest highlights of the day was meeting so many parents of children who had recently been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, as well as young adults living with the condition.

For families navigating a new diagnosis, there can be a lot to take in. Alongside learning about managing Type 1 Diabetes, there are often questions about how to keep a child or young person safe when they are away from home, at school, travelling or in an emergency.

Being able to offer reassurance, answer questions and talk through practical solutions is at the heart of what we do at MedicAlert. Our medical IDs can provide an important voice when someone may not be able to speak for themselves, helping emergency responders and healthcare professionals understand vital medical information quickly.

It was incredibly rewarding to have those conversations face-to-face and to hear directly from the people and families we support.

Catching up with our MedicAlert members

The event was also a wonderful chance to catch up with existing MedicAlert members in person, while welcoming new members to the MedicAlert community.

We were able to talk about the range of medical ID options available and answer questions about keeping IDs in the best possible condition. We also reminded members that our support does not stop after you receive your medical ID. We offer repairs and warranties to help keep your MedicAlert products working and looking their best.

For us, being part of the Type 1 Diabetes community means being there for people throughout their journey, not just at the point when they first choose a medical ID.

A special piece of MedicAlert history

Perhaps the most unexpected highlight of the day came when a MedicAlert member brought along a piece of our history: an old MedicAlert medical ID teddy bear, which was once given to young patients by clinicians.

Seeing this wonderful piece of MedicAlert heritage was a real treat for our team. It was a nostalgic reminder of how much has changed over the years, not only in the way we support people living with diabetes, but also in diabetes awareness, technology, and healthcare.

At the same time, it sparked plenty of ideas and inspiration for the future. Sometimes looking back at where we have come from can help us think differently about where we are going next.

Thank you to the Type 1 Diabetes community

A huge thank you to everyone who visited the MedicAlert stand at Breakthrough T1D Discovery Day, whether you stopped by to ask a question, catch up with us, find out more about MedicAlert, or simply share your story.

Events like this are a valuable reminder of why community always comes first.