Breakthrough T1D Community Summit: Seattle, WA

Get checked in for the day and settle in before programming begins.

Hear about Breakthrough T1D’s mission, ways to get involved, and get excited for a great day of community!

Joe Soter and Britta Olson are commercial pilots living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), a career path many assume is closed off to people living with T1D.

Joe was seven years into flying professionally when he was unexpectedly diagnosed with T1D in 2021, leading to a year-long leave to learn how to manage his condition and meet federal medical standards for insulin-dependent pilots. Britta was diagnosed partway through flight training, a moment that could have ended her path before it began.

Today, both are back in the cockpit. During this keynote, Joe and Britta will share their journeys back to flying, what it took to meet the standards required of them, and what their experience means for anyone who has ever been told their diagnosis might limit what’s possible for their future.

Discover the latest T1D resources and technology and learn how to get involved at the Breakthrough T1D Hub. Visit with local organizations and chat with representatives!

• TrialNet Risk Screening
  • TrialNet risk screening (and re-screening!) will be available to individuals and families during our vendor fair.
  • Relatives of people with T1D have a 15 times greater risk for developing the disease than people with no family history, but TrialNet offers a free blood test that can detect T1D in its earliest stages, years before symptoms appear. Anyone found to be at high-risk can be monitored by TrialNet clinicians and may be eligible for a prevention study. People interested in screening can contact [email protected] to complete screening paperwork ahead of time. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Check your kiddos or teens in for a fun afternoon!

Join us for a Research Update with Dr. Eddie James of Benaroya Research Institute! Dr. James studies how T cells drive type 1 diabetes, working to uncover what causes loss of immune tolerance and improve disease prediction, staging, and treatment. Come learn more about his work and what’s on the horizon for T1D research.

Connect with others in the T1D community during our round tables! Learn more about each of our speakers here.

• T1D in School & Sports with Dan Miller & Melissa Lanctot
• Meet the T1DPNW Adult Group with Lars Johnson
• Chat about Research and Clinical Trials with Dr. Kalie, Tommerdahl, Dr. Eddie James and Jude Restis
• Learn tools to Transitioning to Independence with T1D with Dr. Kate Weaver of UW Medicine Diabetes Institute!