Type 1 diabetes comic sequel launched online
A follow-up comic that was based on the hit Marvel series Wolverine: Origins and focussed on educating people about type 1 diabetes has been officially launched.
Type 1: Attack of the Ketones, the sequel to Type 1: Origins, was unveiled on the first day of Diabetes Professional Care (DPC2018) and also coincided with World Diabetes Day.
The second issue looks at the risk that can be posed to people with type 1 diabetes if blood sugar levels climb too high.
The publication was first thought up by leading diabetes consultants Dr Partha Kar, of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust and Dr Mayank Patel, of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust in collaboration with people who have the condition.
It is now available to read online for free on the Revolve website, which designed the publication.
‘Diagnosis response’
A spokesperson for Revolve said: “Different people respond to being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in different ways – some like to talk it through, with others preferring to read books and leaflets to learn more.
“Inspired by the legend that is Stan Lee and how he engaged so many young people with his creative allegories that would explore many issues in a fun way, this comic book series provides a means of spreading the type 1 diabetes message by using art.
We had some great responses to the first comic. We found it was a really great way to inform and educate young people with type 1 diabetes, as well as those who are around them. Dr Patel
“It is our hope that these stories will inform and educate anyone who reads them. For those readers who are newly-diagnosed, they will hopefully feel more empowered to look after themselves if not already. It is possible to live a long, healthy life with type 1 diabetes.”
The first title told the story of a young man, Gary, who comes to terms with his diagnosis and his ‘special powers’ of shock, surprise, acceptance and understanding of how he will cope.
The ideas was so popular the collaboration won the Quality in Care Diabetes 2017 Collaboration Initiative of the Year – Children, Young People and Emerging Adults award and was nominated as finalists for the Royal College of Physicians – Excellence in Patient Care awards 2018.
Dr Patel said: “We had some great responses to the first comic. We found it was a really great way to inform and educate young people with type 1 diabetes, as well as those who are around them.
“We have found that many people get confused about the two different types of diabetes, and as a group, people with type 1 diabetes can therefore feel excluded and are forced to deal with ignorance about their disease on a regular basis.
“This can be hugely frustrating and the hope is, that these comic books will provide another means of spreading the type 1 diabetes message through art and that the story will inform and educate anyone who reads it.”