Why is the UK Government debating diabetes in sport? Meet the man who made it happen

On September 3rd 2025, diabetes and sport will go under the global spotlight that is a House of Commons debate. In today’s episode the man who made it happen tells us why - and what this could mean for the millions of people living with diabetes in the UK.

Chris Bright is one of the community’s crusaders. As part of his role as Community Partnerships and Events Lead at Breakthrough T1D in the UK, he has put diabetes in sport on the agenda at the highest possible level. The goal? To improve the inclusivity of physical activity for people with diabetes. 

The need is clear - the Equality Act that safeguards around 3.5 million people with diabetes classified as living with a hidden disability in work and education does not currently extend to sport. In fact, recent research found that of 184 existing governing bodies in sport, only four have policies in place for people with diabetes.

Diagnosed at the age of 8, Chris overcame stigma and the challenges of a very inflexible insulin regime as a young athlete to represent Wales at futsal. He later used those negative experiences as momentum to build The Diabetes Football Community, bringing young footballers with diabetes together while rewriting attitudes to type 1 diabetes and football.

In this episode we dig into different pockets of Chris’s work, including some new recommendations for travel, airports and airport security. We touch on his personal journey, and he reveals his strategy for successfully creating change in the face of inequality - perfect for anyone who feels as galvanised as I was listening to Chris’s phenomenal story. 

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DISCLAIMER
Nothing you hear on Type 1 on 1 should be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team before making any changes to your diabetes or health management.

SPONSOR MESSAGE
This episode of Type 1 on 1 is sponsored by Dexcom. Using Dexcom CGM has given me so much confidence to make informed diabetes treatment decisions in the moment.

You can choose to wear it on your arm or your abdomen, and all Dexcom CGMs have the share and follow feature even when connected to an insulin pump, so family and friends can see your glucose levels and get alerts, giving that extra bit of support when needed.

Head to Dexcom.com to request a free Dexcom ONE+ sample.

Always read the user manual for important product aspects and limitations. Talk to your doctor for diabetes management terms and conditions and terms of use.