Sources & Credits for the T1D Companion Cards: Reflect Deck
The Companion Cards were written and illustrated by Alex Durussel-Baker, a designer living with type 1 diabetes, and reviewed by healthcare professionals and people with lived experience.
Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but please note the Companion Cards are not a substitute for medical advice. For individual concerns, always consult your healthcare team.
Below you’ll find the sources behind each card, grouped by set.
Mythbusting
No such thing as a diabetes diet
Diabetes UK: I have type 1 diabetes - what can I eat?— accessed Sept 2025
Never too old for diabetes
Diatribe: Could I Have Been Misdiagnosed? Do I Have Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes? — accessed Sept 2025
The Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. Thomas NJ, Jones SE, Weedon MN, et al. Frequency and phenotype of type 1 diabetes in the first six decades of life: a cross-sectional, genetically stratified survival analysis from UK Biobank — Published Feb 2018
The true weight of diabetes
Stanford University: New research shows how to keep diabetics safer during sleep (Life with type 1 diabetes requires an astonishing number of health-related decisions - about 180 per day.) - accessed Sept 2025
Practice come-backs
NHS England: Language matters: language and diabetes - accessed Sept 2025
You didn’t do this to yourself
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) Study - accessed Sept 2025
American Diabetes Association: Why Can’t We Prevent Type 1 Diabetes?: Maybe it’s time to try a different combination - accessed Sept 2025
Insulin is not a cure
JDRF - Treatments for type 1 diabetes — accessed Sept 2025
Diabetes Uk: How many people in the UK have diabetes? - accessed Sept 2025
Diabetes Uk: Type 2 diabetes remission - accessed Sept 2025
Multiple types, one misunderstood condition
Diabetes Uk: How many people in the UK have diabetes? - accessed Sept 2025
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Type 101
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
NHS: What is type 1 diabetes - accessed Sept 2025
Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd..: The Changing Epidemiology of Type 1 Diabetes: A Global Perspective — published 2025
Insulin
Diabetes UK: Types of insulin — accessed Sept 2025
American Diabetes Association: The History of a Wonderful Thing We Call Insulin — accessed Sept 2025
Science ABC: What Are The Most Expensive Liquids In The World? — accessed Sept 2025
Time in range
Diabetes UK: Time in range — accessed Sept 2025
Battelino T, Danne T, Bergenstal RM, et al. (2019). Time in range centered diabetes care — Published 2021
Symptoms of T1D
Breakthrough T1D: Signs & Symptoms of type 1 diabetes — accessed Sept 2025
NHS England: 4 T’s diabetes resources - accessed Sept 2025
Carb Counting
NHS England: Carbohydrate counting and insulin does adjustment — accessed Sept 2025
Breakthrough T1D: Carb counting — accessed Sept 2025
Hypos
NICE: Diabetic Hypoglycaemia — accessed Sept 2025
DVLA: A guide to insulin treated diabetes and driving — accessed Sept 2025
Hyperglycemia
Diabetes UK: Hyperglycaemia (Hyper) — accessed Sept 2025
Diabetes Tech
Breakthrough T1D: Guide to type 1 diabetes technology — accessed Sept 2025
Diabetes UK: Your feelings about diabetes technology — accessed Sept 2025
A winning diabetes team
GOV UK: NHS Choice Framework - what choices are available to you in your NHS care — accessed Sept 2025
Citizen’s Advice Scotland: NHS patients' rights — accessed Sept 2025
Dealing with information overload
Diabetes UK: Coping with a diabetes diagnosis — accessed Sept 2025
Diabetes Complications
Breakthrough T1D: Type 1 diabetes and complications — accessed Sept 2025
Diabetes UK: What is diabetes distress and burnout? — accessed Sept 2025
Honeymoon phase
Breakthrough T1D: The honeymoon phase of type 1 diabetes — accessed Sept 2025
Diabetes UK: Immunotherapy — accessed Sept 2025
Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.: Mittal M, Porchezhian P, Kapoor N. Honeymoon phase in type 1 diabetes mellitus: A window of opportunity for diabetes reversal? — Published 2024
Who needs to know?
GOV UK: Diabetes and driving — accessed Sept 2025
Beyond Type 1: 7 Times TV And Movies Got Diabetes Wrong - accessed Sept 2025
Diabetes stigma
End Diabetes Stigma: About the International Consensus and Pledge to eliminate Diabetes Stigma — accessed Sept 2025
The Lancet: Prof Jane Speight, PhD∙ Elizabeth Holmes-Truscott, PhD∙ Matthew Garza, BS ∙ Renza Scibilia ∙ Sabina Wagner, MSc ∙ Asuka Kato, PhD ∙ et al. Bringing an end to diabetes stigma and discrimination: an international consensus statement on evidence and recommendations — Published 2024
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Riding the Sugar Wave
42 factors affect blood sugar
DiaTribe: 42 Factors That Affect Blood Glucose?! — accessed Sept 2025
Stress and Diabetes
Diabetes UK: Stress and diabetes — accessed Sept 2025
American Diabetes Association: Stress and Diabetes: A Review of the Links — accessed Sept 2025
Pre-bolus
MySugr: Tip To Stop High Blood Sugars: Master The Pre-Bolus, by Scott Johnson — accessed Sept 2025
Fast, medium & slow carbs
Diabetes UK: Glycaemic index and diabetes — accessed Sept 2025
Menopause
British Menopause Society: Tools for clinicians : What is menopause — accessed Sept 2025
Beyond Type 1 : Menopause + Type 1 Diabetes — accessed Sept 2025
Breakthrough T1D: Menopause and type 1 diabetes — accessed Sept 2025
Treat or treatment?
NICE: Diabetic Hypoglycaemia — accessed Sept 2025
Chasing perfect blood sugars
American Diabetes Association: CGM & Time in Range — accessed Sept 2025
Diabetes UK: What is diabetes distress and burnout? — accessed Sept 2025
Reviewing Ratios
NHS North Valley STEP: 10 Steps to insulin control, Dr Fraser Gibb — accessed Sept 2025
Tech check
NHS: Storing and travelling with rapid-acting insulin — accessed Sept 2025
Beyond type 1: CGM Troubleshooting: Quick Fixes for Diabetes Devices — accessed Sept 2025
Rotating sites
Diabetes UK: Injecting insulin — accessed Sept 2025
That time of the month
Breakthrough T1D: Menstruation and type 1 diabetes — accessed Sept 2025
Saru Toor, Jane E. Yardley, Zeinab Momeni: Type 1 Diabetes and the Menstrual Cycle: Where/How Does Exercise Fit in? — Published February 2023
Managing sick days
Diabetes UK: Diabetes when you're unwell — accessed Sept 2025
Food experiments
Breakthrough T1D: Breakthrough T1D UK position statement on low-carb diets and type 1 diabetes — accessed Sept 2025
Adam Brown , Bright Spots & Landmines - The Diabetes Guide I wish Someone Had Handed Me (2017) — PDF download — accessed Sept 2025
Managing rollercoaster days
Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism: Mia Christensen, MD, Esben Lerkevang Grove Laugesen, MD, Bo M. Bibby, MSc, Klavs W. Hansen, MD: The glycaemic roller coaster phenomenon in type 1 diabetes — Published September 2023
American Diabetes Association: Stress and Diabetes: A Review of the Links — accessed Sept 2025
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Beyond the Numbers
It’s okay to not be okay
CDC: Diabetes and Mental Health — accessed Sept 2025
Diabetes UK: Depression and diabetes — accessed Sept 2025
Recognising Diabetes Burnout
Diabetes UK: What is diabetes distress and burnout? — accessed Sept 2025
Finding your people
Susannah Fox , Rebel Health: A Field Guide to the Patient-Led Revolution — published April 2024
Decision fatigue
Stanford University: New research shows how to keep diabetics safer during sleep (Life with type 1 diabetes requires an astonishing number of health-related decisions - about 180 per day.) - accessed Sept 2025
The access gap
T1International: COSTS AND RATIONING OF INSULIN AND DIABETES SUPPLIES: FINDINGS FROM THE 2018 T1INTERNATIONAL PATIENT SURVEY — accessed Sept 2025
Grounding an anxious mind
Dr Clayton Micallef PhD: Managing Stress and Anxiety: The 54321 Mindfulness Grounding Practice — accessed Sept 2025
Taming the fear of complications
Elizabeth Snouffer: Scared straight: diabetes stigma and trauma — accessed Sept 2025
Hypo anxiety
Diabetes UK: What is hypo anxiety? — accessed October 2025
A new relationship to eating
Beat Eating Disorders: T1DE (Type 1 Diabetes and Disordered Eating) — accessed October 2025
Diabetes UK: Diabetes UK Helpline — accessed October 2025
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Living & Thriving
T1Ds just wanna have fun
Breakthrough T1D: Alcohol and diabetes — accessed October 2025
Performance sport & T1D
DiaTribe: Climb Every Mountain: Scaling Mt. Everest With Diabetes — accessed October 2025
Breakthrough T1D: Good days and bad days – learning to manage type 1 diabetes as a professional footballer — accessed October 2025
T1D Strong: Tackling Type 1 Diabetes: NFL Players Turning Challenges into Triumphs — accessed October 2025
T1D Strong: Type 1 Olympic Athletes Past and Present — accessed October 2025
The Diabetes Football Community — accessed October 2025
Type One Run — accessed October 2025
Exercising confidently
American Diabetes Association: Exercise & Type 1 — accessed October 2025
Breakthrough T1D: Exercise and type 1 diabetes — accessed October 2025
Adam Brown , Bright Spots & Landmines - The Diabetes Guide I wish Someone Had Handed Me (2017) — PDF download — accessed Sept 2025
All diabetes types matter
Diabetes UK: 50% of people living with diabetes have missed healthcare appointments due to stigma fear — accessed October 2025
CDC Diabetes: Diabetes Risk Factors — accessed October 2025
T1D & Parenthood
American Diabetes Association: Genetics of Diabetes — accessed October 2025
NHS: The Elsa Study — accessed October 2025
Breakthrough T1D: Type 1 Diabetes Early Detection — accessed October 2025
Travelling with T1D
Breakthrough T1D: Travelling with type 1 diabetes — accessed October 2025
Gov UK: Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports; Medicines, medical equipment and dietary requirements — accessed October 2025
DiaTribe: How To Help Keep Your Insulin (and Other Diabetes Meds) Cool — accessed October 2025
DiaTribe: Under Pressure: Flying With Diabetes — accessed October 2025
Hidden Disabilities: Airports and airlines around the world — accessed October 2025
Adapting acceptance
Type 1 on 1: Jen Grieves: The road to acceptance with type 1 diabetes — accessed October 2025
Sex & diabetes
Diabetes UK: Sex and diabetes — accessed October 2025
Beyond type 1 : Sex and Type 1 Diabetes — accessed October 2025
Diabetes UK: Diabetes UK Helpline — accessed October 2025
Dedoc: Heather Koga: Breaking the silence: sexual dysfunction in diabetes — accessed October 2025
Diabetes advocacy
End Diabetes Stigma: About the International Consensus and Pledge to eliminate Diabetes Stigma — accessed Sept 2025
Dedoc.org — accessed October 2025
International Diabetes Federation: Advocacy Academy — accessed October 2025
T1International — accessed October 2025
WHO: Diabetes: Key facts — accessed Sept 2025
T1D pregnancy
Ginger Vieira, Jennifer Smith CDCES: Pregnancy with Type 1 Diabetes: Your Month-to-Month Guide to Blood Sugar Management — published March 2017
Diabetes UK: Diabetes UK Helpline — accessed October 2025
About these sources
These references were collated during the creation of the first edition of the Reflect Deck (2025). We’ll continue to review and update them in future editions as new evidence and guidance emerge.