Episode 147 - Why you should care about the UK government’s upcoming diabetes in sport debate with Chris Bright

On September 3rd 2025, diabetes and sport will go under the global spotlight that is a House of Commons debate. In this 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 in work and education does not currently extend to sport. In fact, recent research found that of 180 existing governing bodies in sport, only four have policies in place for people with diabetes.

Diagnosed at 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. 

CONNECT WITH CHRIS
Follow Chris on Instagram.
Find Chris on X.
Follow Chris on TikTok.
The Diabetes Football Community website.
Breakthrough T1D Community Events Calendar.