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Taking part in physical activity and sport has lots of benefits, including helping people to manage their own health and wellbeing. If you’d like to find out more about how your organisation can support people with long-term health conditions, this case study’s for you.

We spoke to Chris Bright, founder of The Diabetes Football Community, to find out about the challenges people living with diabetes can face when participating in sport and physical activity, and how community clubs and delivery organisations can support them.

Living with diabetes

More than four million people in the UK live with diabetes, a condition that impacts upon their ability to control their blood glucose (commonly referred to as blood sugar) levels. Glucose provides the body with energy and is absorbed through a hormone called insulin.

Logo of The Diabetes Football Community, featuring a person playing football and a teardrop shape.

There are two main types of diabetes:

  • Type 1, where the body attacks or destroys the cells that produce insulin.
  • Type 2, where the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin properly.

Type 2 diabetes is more common than type 1; over 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2 (Source: NHS website, March 2023).

People living with diabetes (diabetics) are often required to either inject, take tablets or use a pump to manage their condition. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels regularly. As medicine’s required to manage diabetes, it’s considered to be a hidden disability. This means people living with diabetes are protected under the Equalities Act (2010).

The stigma associated with diabetes

Research by Breakthrough T1D found that most diabetics want to be physically active, but feel the stigma, a lack of awareness and support act as major barriers.

Chris shared some of the challenges he’s faced since being diagnosed with diabetes. These have included:

Negative comments
Including referring to injecting insulin as drugs misuse. Chris shared an example where a referee reminded him of anti-doping rules when seeing him with his injection pen, glucose monitor and fast-acting glucose supplies. These comments were hurtful.
Stereotypes
There are a number of perceived stereotypes associated with diabetes; many of these relate to perceptions of having a poor or unhealthy diet. Examples include referring to sugary snacks as unhealthy food choices, despite diabetic people sometimes needing to increase their blood sugar levels, or labelling meals as ‘diabetes on a plate’.
Invisibility
As a hidden disability there’s often a lack of support or funding for conditions that don’t fit into traditional disability pathways. People living with diabetes often have to participate in mainstream activities, which don’t always cater fully for specific needs or provide the required adaptations.
Unsuitable facilities
Suitable spaces to inject insulin are rarely provided. If people need to inject themselves, they often have to do so in unhygienic toilets or shared changing blocks.

As a result, of these challenges, lack of provision for those living with diabetes and his passion for football, Chris decided to set up The Diabetes Football Community.

What is The Diabetes Football Community and what do they offer?

The Diabetes Football Community is a not-for-profit organisation that brings people living with diabetes together to play football, collectively tackle the challenges they face, and educate others.

Participation opportunities include:

  • A men’s futsal team based in London, with training and competitive opportunities. Some participants compete nationally and in the European Futsal Championships for people with diabetes (DiaEuro).
  • Three football festivals a year, which are run across the country for children, adults and families who are impacted by diabetes.
  • Women’s Futsal sessions, which move around the country depending on demand.
  • A strong online community with around 500 members; this enables members of the community to stay connected outside of organised activities.

A man kicks a football in his garden.

The Diabetes Football Community raises awareness and knowledge of diabetes through:

  • An educational programme for people working in primary schools, this is designed which raises awareness and discusses the challenges associated with having diabetes.
  • Sharing information to support participant’s wellbeing and safety through podcasts and blogs.
  • The production of guidance to support coaches in becoming more aware of diabetes.
  • Lunch and learn sessions for organisations to help them learn more about diabetes.

If you’re interested in any of these opportunities, please reach out to The Diabetes Football Community via email or social media or visit their website.

​​​​​​​Supporting people with diabetes: top tips for community organisations

When supporting participants with diabetes, it’s important to take a person-centred approach as each individual will have different needs, motivations and challenges. It’s important that each participant feels welcomed and knows that their needs can be catered for.

Chris’s top tips for providing a supportive environment for participants with diabetes include:

Take time to understand people
Take time to understand their specific needs and preferences, but be sure to do this in private space, not in front of others. Once you’ve identified their needs, put a plan in place to action any requirements they might have.
Create a positive environment
Have open conversations about diabetes so everyone’s familiar with the condition and aware of what they can do to provide a supportive environment.
Create a positive culture
Call out and respond to any negative comments.
Provide appropriate facilities
Where possible, provide a safe comfortable space for people to inject insulin or make any adjustments to their diabetes technologies, such as pumps or glucose monitors.
Request information at registration
Provide the option for people to disclose any long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, when joining your organisation. This information can then be used to guide discussions and ensure your organisation can make any required adaptions. Once you’ve collected this information, keep it confidential and store it securely.
Provide training plans or session schedules ahead of time
Physical activity can affect blood glucose levels in different ways. Flexibility exercises like yoga have minimal effects, exercises like sprinting and weightlifting are likely to cause blood glucose levels to rise, while cycling or jogging can cause them to drop. Knowing what a session entails before attending can help a person living with diabetes to plan, and ensure they are fully prepared for any activities.
Know how to deal with or prevent dangerously low blood glucose levels
Look out for your participants' safety by educating yourself and others on the signs of dangerously low blood glucose levels and how to respond. It’s advisable to have fast-acting glucose, which could be sweets, isotonic sports drinks or fruit juices, on hand to help if required.

Find more information on the organisation's work.

Diabetes Football Community