Living With T1D/October 12, 2026/2 min read

Closing the Gap: New Approach to Making Diabetes Technology Accessible to All Young People

A UK study identified why some children and teens with Type 1 diabetes struggle to access modern technologies, then worked directly with patients and families to design solutions that work across different communities.

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Evidence label explains the kind of source behind this article (for example peer-reviewed literature vs community video). It is not medical advice.

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Key takeaways

Young people from ethnic minority backgrounds and lower-income areas face real barriers to accessing diabetes technologies
Language challenges, limited awareness, and uneven healthcare delivery are key obstacles families encounter
Patient and family input is essential—researchers partnered with young people and caregivers to design better tools and resources
New culturally responsive educational materials are now available to help healthcare teams and families navigate technology access

The Problem: Who Gets Left Behind?

Not all children and young people with Type 1 diabetes have equal access to the latest technologies and devices that can help manage their condition. Research from the UK UNBIASED study found that persistent inequities exist—particularly among young people from ethnic minority communities and those living in lower-income areas.

The barriers are real and concrete: many families aren't aware that certain technologies exist, language and communication gaps make it hard to understand options, healthcare services deliver resources unevenly, and some families feel less confident navigating healthcare conversations. These obstacles can mean the difference between having tools that make daily diabetes management easier and going without.

Turning Research Into Real Solutions

Rather than simply publishing findings, the UNBIASED team took a different approach: they asked the people most affected—young people living with diabetes, their families, healthcare professionals, and community organizations—what solutions would actually work.

This co-production process brought together diverse voices to design educational materials and tools that reflect the real lives and needs of young people across different backgrounds. The team created visual resources, animations, videos, and communication tools specifically designed to be culturally inclusive and easy to understand.

New Resources for Healthcare Teams and Families

The collaborative work produced a suite of practical resources aimed at both healthcare professionals and families. These materials are designed to help healthcare teams better serve all young people with Type 1 diabetes and give families the information and confidence they need to advocate for access to technologies.

Early tracking of how these resources are being used—through website traffic, social media engagement, and feedback from healthcare organizations and families—shows they are reaching the communities they were designed for. The goal is simple: to help ensure that every young person with Type 1 diabetes, regardless of their background or circumstances, has access to the tools that can support their health.

Evidence label

Source: Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association. Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

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