Portsmouth Comic Con is delighted to announce a partnership with specialist psychologists and consultants from Queen Alexandra Hospital, University Hospital Southampton and DiaFight to raise awareness and dispel myths around type 1 diabetes, through the promotion of an educational but fun range of games and a comic book series.
Living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is challenging at best and life-limiting at worst. While children and families receive physical care and medical training, significant gaps remain in emotional, psychological, and social support. There is an urgent need for engaging, relatable, and fun educational tools that reach children, schools, and broader communities.
Enter DiaFight—a groundbreaking fantasy-themed trading card game and story universe that brings to life the realities of diabetes in a way that is fun, empowering, and easy to understand. Designed for children and adults aged 4 and older, DiaFight combines immersive gameplay with a powerful storytelling series: Ellie and Endo. These short, animated stories follow a brave young girl and her loyal DiaPal through epic adventures that mirror the daily highs and lows of living with T1D. In this regard, DiaFight is meant to inspire any young person with diabetes on their own journey. They have reached over 80,000 people globally.
Described by healthcare officials as “simple but brilliant,” the card game and stories address the many real-life experiences faced by children, families, and adults with diabetes—making learning not only accessible but enjoyable.
Dr. Tom Crabtree, Consultant Diabetologist, Royal Derby Hospital, explained how DiaFight is also useful for people without diabetes, “I think DiaFight is a fantastic novel and entertaining way of helping people without diabetes understand some of the day-to-day burdens of living with the condition, as well as potentially opening up important conversations about living with type 1 diabetes between those living with the condition and their families, friends and loved ones.”
Backed by Research, Built by the Diabetes Community
DiaFight was co-designed with people living with diabetes, healthcare providers, teachers,
and caregivers. A robust clinical research programme, including focus groups and interviews, evaluated acceptability, educational impact, stigma reduction, and playability.
This work builds on the fabulous work that Diabetes Specialist Consultants Dr Mayank Patel and Dr Partha Kar have done in developing comic series, T1D, which has reached over 30,000 readers globally.
Taking real world challenges for those living with type 1, the comic series breaks down complex and often overwhelming medical information into relatable, visual narratives through comic storytelling. Following the journey of characters navigating daily life, the series tackles everything from being diagnosed, managing sugar levels, myths and helping patients, particularly children, to understand their condition and feel seen, heard and less alone. The series is also used by schools and health care professionals to build empathy.
A parent of a child with type 1 diabetes said, “It was the first time my son saw another kid with diabetes, even if it was a cartoon, and it made all the difference”
Dr Mayank Patel said, “Delighted to be bringing the Type 1 Diabetes Comics series to the 2026 Portsmouth Comic Con. Looking forward to sharing this fun, award winning educational resource with the Comic Con-munity, as all involved continue their efforts to raise awareness, dispel myths, and challenge diabetes stigma”.
Thousands of FREE games and copies of the comic series are set to be given away at Portsmouth Comic Con when it returns to Portsmouth Guildhall on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May 2026, with the Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation also in attendance to provide further information and support for those wishing to know more about the condition.
Professor Katharine Barnard-Kelly said ‘We’re very excited to be part of Portsmouth Comic Con. It is part of a wider DiaFight diabetes awareness campaign to reduce stigma, improve understanding and bring a little joy. There is no better place to blend fun with real worldbenefits for kids of all ages!”
Events Manager for Portsmouth Comic Con, Curt Hill, said “It is really amazing to see comics and games being used as a platform by medical professionals to communicate information in a fun and understandable way, particularly for children, where they can see themselves as the superhero in their own story. We are delighted to be working with our partners from NHS England in this initiative to help promote these valuable assets, which will help us all to understand more about living with diabetes which effects nearly 5 million in the UK”.
Over 8,000 people are expected to attend the annual Portsmouth Comic Con event which is described as “the largest family-friendly Comic Con of its kind”.
In a celebration of all things comic, film, TV and pop culture related, five floors of the Guildhall and Guildhall Square will be packed with artist and celebrity guests, displays, workshops, panels, interactive fun and immersive experiences that are yet to be announced!
