World Diabetes Day 2026
World Diabetes Day is on 14 November 2026
Too many people - particularly children and young people - are only diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when they are seriously ill.
The most common symptoms, known as the 4Ts – excessive thirst, needing the toilet more, unusual tiredness and getting thinner - often come on quickly, over days or weeks, and can be missed or mistaken for other illnesses. But with a simple finger prick blood test, type 1 diabetes can be recognised quickly. This could stop avoidable emergency admissions due to DKA, prevent families from the heartbreak of seeing their loved ones seriously ill and save lives.
That’s why we need everyone to know the symptoms and what to do if they spot any of them – ask your doctor to test for type 1 immediately.
This World Diabetes Day, we need your help to reach as many people as possible. Share the signs. Save a life.
Download or print off our posters and resources to share and raise awareness of the 4Ts:
Know the symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children (PDF, 5.35MB)
Know the symptoms of type 1 diabetes (PDF, 4.2MB)
Know the symptoms of type 1 diabetes - white background (PDF, 139KB)
Know the symptoms of type 1 diabetes - blue background (PDF, 140KB)
If you work in a GP surgery, we have a version of the 'Know the symptoms of type 1 diabetes' for digital screens (JPEG 5.16MB)
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