Family call for investment in insulin production in the UK to ensure self-sufficiency
Petition highlights uncertainty in global supply chain due to international events as crucial factor.
Following the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in their family, a petition has been set-up to raise awareness about vulnerability of people taking insulin relying on their treatment being imported from other countries.
The petition set-up for government attention is titled: Invest in and support insulin production in the UK to ensure self-sufficiency and needs 10,000 signatures before 7th October 2026.
The petition text reads: “The UK is too reliant on insulin production from other countries. People with diabetes must be able to rest assured that the supply cannot be disrupted by global uncertainties. The UK must increase its own manufacture of insulin.
“Every time global affairs such as the wars in Ukraine, the Middle East etc are in the news, families with relatives with type 1 diabetes live with anxiety around the production chain for insulin being disrupted.
Although we get most of our insulin from Europe, since Brexit we can’t rely on being the first priority should there be a shortage in supplies. It is vital we produce our own supplies of this life saving substance.”
Ruth Walters shares her story about why this cause is so important, following her son Elio being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes:
“In 2023 I gave birth to a baby boy. A year later, on his first birthday we had a little party for him. He had a great time. The next day he was a little under the weather. He had a cough and a cold. On the Friday he started drinking a lot. I assumed he had a sore throat and that was why. Seeing as he was too young to tell me how he was feeling. On the Saturday morning as he was playing with his toy kitchen he vomited. He was sick a few times. His breath smelt sweet. On the Sunday he seemed worse and his breathing seemed different.
“I took him to the A&E at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton. We were told after triage, that there was a very long wait time and, as his case wasn't urgent, they would send us across to the Royal Sussex County Hospital to see the out of hours GP.
“At our appointment I explained Elio's symptoms, including the odd breathing and the thirst. I asked the doctor specifically for advice on the thirst as he was still vomiting and I wanted to know how much water to give him. The doctor recommended I give him small sips of water. I was sent home with a diagnosis of probably stomach bug. No further investigation. I followed the advice and gave small sips on water.
“The next morning, he was worse: lethargic, pale and breathing more heavily. I took him back to A&E, where staff immediately rushed him to the front of the queue. Within about 15 minutes, the on-duty doctor, Dr Kamal Patel, had diagnosed severe DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) caused by undiagnosed type 1 diabetes.
“DKA can be life-threatening and requires urgent hospital treatment. It is caused by an acute lack of insulin, which leads to a dangerous build-up of ketones and makes the blood acidic. Without insulin, the body cannot move glucose from the blood into cells for energy, so it starts breaking down fat instead.
This releases ketones, which explains why his breath smelt sweet. His unusual breathing was Kussmaul breathing, a deep, laboured pattern linked to severe metabolic acidosis.
“A nurse on duty that morning, 11th March 2024, noticed it straight away. The GP we had seen 24 hours earlier had missed it. My son’s body was shutting down. If DKA is not treated, it can be fatal within days or even hours.”
Little education about type 1 diabetes available
“Because there is so little community education about type 1 diabetes, I did not understand the seriousness of Elio’s diagnosis at first. He was dangerously ill, and I try not to think about what might have happened if I had not trusted my instinct and returned to A&E. He was extremely dehydrated, his veins were closing, and it was very difficult to insert cannulas. He needed lines for fluids, insulin and blood samples. After repeated attempts, staff said that if they could not place the second line soon, they would have to drill into his knee. Thankfully, an anaesthetist was eventually able to place the insulin line, although the third cannula was not inserted until the next day.
“Later that evening, staff were worried that Elio was not responding. He was exhausted and terrified. They took him for a scan because they were concerned that he may have fluid on the brain after receiving so many fluids. I insisted on staying with him, wearing a heavy lead apron and singing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ as he went into the machine so he could hear my voice and know I was there. It was hard to sing through tears. The scan showed he did not have fluid on the brain. We were eventually moved to the urgent treatment centre (UTC) and given a room. I did not sleep; I watched him all night. I have not slept a full night since and doubt I ever will. He stayed in the UTC for a couple of days.
“Eventually I was allowed to breastfeed him. He lay in bed, or on me, without moving or smiling. I remember writing to my sister that I just wanted him to smile again. He has the cheekiest smile, with a little dimple on his left cheek. As he grew stronger on breast milk, we were moved to Level 9 of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Brighton, where he came under the wonderful care of the Paediatric Diabetes Team. We were in hospital for two weeks.”
Learning about insulin therapy
“I spent two weeks learning that Elio would now be dependent on insulin for his survival for the rest of his life, whether delivered via injection or via pump therapy.
“The question remained, why had the initial GP not spotted the symptoms of such a dangerous and life-threatening condition? I went through the NHS complaints process. The GP in question underwent further training in the subject. I requested that all GPs surgeries be supplied with a blood glucose finger pricker and better training, so no other mother ever had to go through this, or worse, again. I was told this was not possible due to funding.
“Just over a year later, in May 2025, a little girl called Lyla Story tragically died from the same missed diagnosis at the age of two. These two stories are not out of the ordinary. The number of children and babies going undiagnosed until they are in severe, life threatening DKA is, frankly shocking.
“Once we got home from the hospital and we grappled with the reality of what living with a toddler with type 1 diabetes actually means. How every plan made has to have a plan B. How I will spend my nights watching glucose numbers. How I cannot work. How, even the simplest things such as taking a bath, going to nursery, enjoying birthday parties would be turned on their heads.”
More funding needed to educate healthcare professionals about type 1 diabetes symptoms
“I became increasingly aware of the complete lack of education in the community and amongst GPs. Not because they are not willing to learn, but because the funding for the training does not exist. A few months ago, I ordered Elio's repeat prescription of glucose shots which he depends on to bring him out of hypo (untreated hypos can cause seizures, or even coma) and his insulin which saves his life if his blood glucose is too high stopping him ending up in DKA again.
“My GP surgery has now been dealing with Elio's type 1 diabetes for two years. And yet, the GP on duty that day decided to reject the prescription and the surgery did not inform me. The prescription for my son’s life saving medication was rejected for no reason. The GP on duty that day, obviously also had not had enough training on the subject of type 1 diabetes in children and babies and how serious a condition it is and how quickly it can turn into a medical emergency.”
Reliance on imports a risk for those in need of medical treatment supplies
“The reason for sharing my story is to highlight the ever more necessary subject of starting to produce insulin in the UK. There are nearly 500,000 people living with type 1 diabetes in the UK. Not to mention other kinds of diabetes such as type 2 and gestational diabetes.
“People living with type 1 diabetes are reliant on insulin for their survival. Currently, nearly all of that insulin is being shipped in from abroad. This means that any kind of global political issues can cause a shortage in insulin. Whether it be war, the price of petrol or political processes such as Brexit.
“These global political and economic shifts which often seem so far away, are having a direct impact on the supply of insulin to hundreds of thousands of people. Not only putting them under considerable stress but also putting their lives in danger. This is unacceptable.
“We have become far too reliant on importing this life saving medicine and it is extremely dangerous for this very vulnerable group of people. I myself, here in Brighton, have had to run around various pharmacies all over the city to find insulin due to glitches in the supply chain related to global political shifts. Type 1 diabetes diagnosis in children is rising. We need to start producing British insulin now to avoid putting their lives in danger.
“Thank you for reading Elio's story. I hope you can help spread awareness.
“Best wishes from a tired, stressed Mum.”
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