From March 15–18, more than 200 passionate, motivated Breakthrough T1D Advocates from all 50 states convened in Washington, D.C., for Breakthrough T1D 2026 Government Day.
Government Day remains one of Breakthrough T1D’s most impactful ways to effect change. By bringing the lived type 1 diabetes (T1D) experience directly to policymakers, we are accelerating progress toward our vision of a world without T1D. Guests also enjoyed networking opportunities, briefings from our Research, Advocacy, and Medical Affairs teams, and a spirited volunteer recognition celebrating our successes of the last year.
Over the course of a few days, our advocates held nearly 500 meetings with Members of Congress and their staff in the U.S. House and Senate, sharing their personal stories of life with T1D, championing our top legislative priorities, and doing all they could to ensure that the collective voice of the T1D community was heard loud and clear on Capitol Hill.
Advocating for Progress on Capitol Hill
Breakthrough T1D Advocates had a few specific asks for Congress. These represent our top legislative priorities, which will have the biggest impact on our ability to achieve our mission.
Support for the Special Diabetes Program (SDP)
It should be no surprise that the Special Diabetes Program (SDP) is first and foremost.
The Special Diabetes Program (SDP) remains pivotal to our ability to realize cures. Since its creation in 1997, it has contributed nearly $3.8 billion to T1D research. This investment has paid huge dividends, generating breakthroughs and delivering an estimated $50 billion in Federal healthcare savings, just from the use of devices alone.
In February 2026, Congress passed an extension of the SDP through December 31, 2026, along with an increase in annual funding from $160 million to $200 million. Advocates expressed deep gratitude for this progress while emphasizing the urgent need for long-term renewal.
Protect Critical T1D Research and Cures
Progress toward cures is impossible without funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—essential agencies driving the development of new therapies, prevention strategies, and cures. Advocates asked Congress to support strong funding for these agencies to ensure our critical progress continues.
Accelerate Cell Therapies
Cell therapies are a matter of when, not if. Today, there are more than a dozen cell therapies in clinical trials. Our advocates highlighted the transformative potential of these approaches to cure T1D, and called for policies and funding to support faster clinical trials, scalable manufacturing, and future access to these life-changing therapies.
Insulin Affordability
People with T1D cannot live without access to insulin. It’s that simple. While there has been marked progress of insulin affordability in the past few years, including the $35 monthly cap for those on Medicare, there is still work to be done.
Advocates continued to push for meaningful insulin affordability reforms. They are calling on Congress to expand affordability and access to those with commercial insurance and the uninsured through forthcoming legislation.
Mary Tyler Moore Award: Princess Padmaja Kumari Parma
One of the highlights of Government Day was the presentation of the Mary Tyler Moore Award to Princess Padmaja Kumari Parmar of Udaipur, India.
Princess Padmaja was recognized for her extraordinary leadership and dedication to improving the lives of people with T1D. Through her advocacy and global engagement, she has helped elevate awareness, drive progress, and inspire action across the international diabetes community—embodying the spirit and legacy of Mary Tyler Moore.
Mary Tyler Moore’s husband, Dr. S. Robert Levine, shared remarks highlighting Mary’s enduring legacy, and CEO Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D, presented the award to the Princess.
Congressional Legacy Award: Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Breakthrough T1D was also proud to honor Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH) with the Congressional Legacy Award in recognition of her decades of leadership and unwavering commitment to the T1D community. Here’s a brief summary of her accomplishments:
- Co-chaired of the Senate Diabetes Caucus—a driving force behind renewing the Special Diabetes Program.
- Played a key role in advancing FDA guidance that enabled faster approval of automated insulin delivery systems—accelerating access for people with T1D by years.
- Worked for years to improve insulin affordability, including helping secure the Medicare $35 per month insulin co-pay cap and continuing efforts to expand affordability protections.
Across her years of service, Senator Shaheen has consistently ensured that the T1D community is seen, heard, and prioritized in Congress. She is one of the greatest T1D Congressional champions to date.
A Community Driving Change
Government Day once again demonstrated the power of our stories. Every person impacted by T1D has a story to tell about how they live with this disease, what it’s like, and how Congress can help. Every meeting in which those stories were told made a crucial connection that will bring us closer to a world without T1D.
Breakthrough T1D is tremendously thankful to the hundreds of advocates who came to Washington, D.C., to make this event possible—and for making it impactful.
This was also our last year using the name “Government Day.” After all, it’s a several-day event! Next year, we’ll be back as “Breakthrough T1D On the Hill” — a name that better represents our organization and the event.
Want to use your voice to power progress on our path to cures? Become an Breakthrough T1D Advocate today.
