New Anthem from Girl Band Raises Awareness of Type1 Diabetes After Research Highlights Silent Struggle

May 29, 2025 – Other, PharmaceuticalSanofi, Stagecoach, autoimmune diseases, type 1 diabetes

  • Recent research from Sanofi highlights the significant impact of Type 1 Diabetes on those living with the condition
  • The song, “Rise Up,” shares their experiences of living with the condition and will be released on Spotify under the band’s name with an accompanying music video
  • Sanofi and Stagecoach partner to form 1Type a girl group composed of four talented children living with autoimmune Type 1 diabetes (aT1D).

29 May 2025 — Reading, UK — Today, Sanofi and Stagecoach Performing Arts are excited to introduce a unique partnership. Selected through a UK-wide audition process, four talented teens living with autoimmune Type 1 diabetes (aT1D) have come together to form a girl band named “1Type”. In response to new research highlighting the significant impact of aT1D on those living with the condition 1 the group has released an original song called “Rise Up” to empower young people living with aT1D and help them feel less alone.

A Recent survey from Sanofi, of 200 UK adults living with aT1D reveals the unseen burden and challenges faced by people living with aT1D and on society at large1. Nearly all individuals (98%) reported that aT1D affects their physical health, 91% saying that it has taken a toll on their mental health. The condition also affects personal relationships, as a third of individuals have had to explain it to close family members. Additionally, more than a quarter (26%) believe aT1D is more misunderstood than Type 2 Diabetes.

Also featured is Duke Al Durham, a UK spoken word poet and hip-hop artist also living with aT1D. Together with Duke, the band have contributed their own lived experiences to the song’s lyrics creating a meaningful anthem for those living with aT1D. The song has been released on Spotify under the name 1Type and is accompanied by a music video. Sanofi will donate an amount matching the profits from song to charities that support people living with aT1D.

aT1D is an autoimmune, complex, and lifelong condition – and it can happen at any age even without family history. It can be a challenging disease with lifelong clinical, economic, and emotional unmet needs for patients and families. In the UK, there is a growing prevalence where approximately 400,000 people are living with the disease, including about 32,000 people 19 years of age and younger. It is known that aT1D is not caused by diet or lifestyle and the causes of aT1D are currently not fully understood. Researchers are exploring the genes and environmental triggers to understand if they play a part in causing the body’s immune system to malfunction and start attacking the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. In the UK, aT1D is managed through insulin therapy and glucose monitoring.

Research has expanded our understanding of the underlying autoimmune mechanisms of aT1D and has now enabled earlier detection of the disease before symptoms appear.

Early detection is not currently available on the NHS. Early detection/early identification of individuals at risk for symptomatic Stage 3 autoimmune T1D may prevent traumatic Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) through glucose monitoring and allow a softer and safer transition to life with aT1D as they learn about management at their own pace. Two large scale studies are underway in the UK that test eligible people. You can learn more about early detection through ELSA study and T1DRA study.

About Sanofi
We are an innovative global healthcare company, driven by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. Our team, across some 100 countries, is dedicated to transforming the practice of medicine by working to turn the impossible into the possible. We provide potentially life-changing treatment options and potentially life-saving vaccine protection to millions of people globally, while putting sustainability and social responsibility at the centre of our ambitions. VIsit: sanofi.com/en

About Stagecoach
Stagecoach Performing Arts was founded in 1988 and continues to grow as the UK’s largest network of extra-curricular performing arts schools for children, with 60,000 students enrolled in our weekly classes worldwide. One of the first extra-curricular children’s performing arts schools in the country, we aim to inspire our students, making a difference in their lives by teaching Creative Courage for Life®. With over 300 franchisees and 3,000 schools and classes worldwide delivering 5,000 hours per week,Stagecoach has a global presence with schools in countries including Canada, Germany, Malta, Spain, Gibraltar, Australia, and Lithuania. Notable alumni are Emma Watson, Jamie Bell, Eleanor Tomlinson, Tuppence Middleton, Tom Fletcher, Dani Harmer, Josh Cuthbert, Danny Mac, and Charlotte Jaconelli. For more information visit the website www.stagecoach.co.uk.

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