Comic Con supports type 1 diabetes education with new hospitals and card game partnership
Portsmouth Comic Con event partners with healthcare teams and an interactive card game to promote education about the condition through fun activities.
Portsmouth Comic Con has announced a partnership with specialist psychologists and consultants from Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, University Hospital Southampton and DiaFight to raise awareness and dispel myths around type 1 diabetes.
The collaboration aims to share a supportive message for people living with type 1 diabetes through the promotion of an educational and fun range of games and a comic book series.
DiaFight is a groundbreaking fantasy-themed trading card game and story universe
that brings to life the realities of diabetes in a way that is fun, empowering, and easy to
understand.
DRWF was proud to sponsor and support DiaFight in its early form in printing the first game packs, bringing them to the community with focus groups and pilot research into the game’s benefits.
Sarah Tutton, DRWF Chief Executive, said: “DiaFight is a great concept that focuses on creating awareness and engagement in face-to-face play and fantasy. It’s a great way to increase diabetes-related knowledge and may even impact on physical and mental health outcomes. We are proud to support the initial research stages of this innovative approach for people living with type 1 diabetes.”
DiaFight creators said: “Living with type 1 diabetes is challenging at best and life-limiting at worst. While children and families receive physical care and medical training, significant gaps remain in emotional, psychological, and social support. There is an urgent need for engaging, relatable, and fun educational tools that reach children, schools, and broader communities.”
Designed for children and adults aged four and older, DiaFight combines immersive
gameplay with a storytelling series. The short, animated stories follow a brave young girl and her loyal DiaPal through epic adventures that mirror the daily highs and lows of living with type 1 diabetes. DiaFight aims to inspire any young person with diabetes on their own journey. Since being launched earlier this year, they have reached more than 80,000 people globally.
The card game and stories address the many real-life experiences faced by children, families, and adults with diabetes – making learning not only accessible but enjoyable. Healthcare officials have described the platform as “simple but brilliant”.
Dr. Tom Crabtree, Consultant Diabetologist, Royal Derby Hospital, said: “I think DiaFight is a fantastic novel and entertaining way of helping people without diabetes understand some of the day-to day burdens of living with the condition, as well as potentially opening up important conversations about living with type 1 diabetes between those living with the condition and their families, friends and loved ones.”
DiaFight was co-designed with people living with diabetes, healthcare providers, teachers, and caregivers. A robust clinical research programme, including focus groups and interviews, evaluated acceptability, educational impact, stigma reduction, and playability.
This work follows on from the work of Diabetes Specialist Consultants Dr Mayank Patel and Dr Partha Kar have done in developing the Type One Origins comic series.
Taking real world challenges for those living with type 1, the comic series breaks down complex and often overwhelming medical information into relatable, visual narratives through comic storytelling.
Following the journey of characters navigating daily life, the series has tackled everything from being diagnosed, managing blood glucose levels, myths and helping patients, particularly children, to understand their condition and feel seen, heard and less alone. The series is also used by schools and health care professionals to build empathy.
A parent of a child with type 1 diabetes said: “Type One Origins was the first time my son saw another kid with diabetes, even if it was a cartoon, and it made all the difference”
Thousands of FREE DiaFight games and copies of the Type One Origins comic series are set to be given away at Portsmouth Comic Con when it returns to Portsmouth Guildhall on Saturday, 2nd and Sunday, 3rd May 2026. DRWF will also be in attendance to provide further information and support for those wishing to know more about the condition.
Professor Katharine Barnard-Kelly, DiaFight co-creator, said: “We are very excited to be part of Portsmouth Comic Con. It is part of a wider DiaFight diabetes awareness campaign to reduce stigma, improve understanding and bring a little joy. There is no better place to blend fun with real world benefits for kids of all ages!”
Events Manager for Portsmouth Comic Con, Curt Hill, said “It is really amazing to see comics and games being used as a platform by medical professionals to communicate information in a fun and understandable way, particularly for children, where they can see themselves as the superhero in their own story. We are delighted to be working with our partners from NHS England in this initiative to help promote these valuable assets, which will help us all to understand more about living with diabetes which effects nearly 5 million in the UK.”
More than 8,000 people are expected to attend the annual Portsmouth Comic Con event which is described as “the largest family-friendly Comic Con of its kind”.
In a celebration of all things comic, film, TV and pop culture related, five floors of the Guildhall and Guildhall Square will be packed with artist and celebrity guests, displays, workshops, panels, interactive fun and immersive experiences that are yet to be announced!
Early Bird tickets are on sale until the end of October, after which time the price will rise. For more information and to book visit here
DiaFight is available as a physical card deck and an online version is in development. For more information visit here
Read more Exciting new diabetes card game provides fun way to learn about the condition
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