QA doctor's Marvel-lous comic is getting diabetes message across

A leading diabetes expert from Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham, has helped to create the comic for young people with Type 1 diabetes.

Dr Partha Kar, along with Dr Mayank Patel, of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, developed the idea with a group of patients and the help of publishing company Revolve Comics.

Based on the title of hit Marvel series Wolverine: Origins, the comic Type 1: Origins features the story of a young man who comes to terms with his diagnosis and understanding how he will cope.

Dr Kar, who is an associate national clinical director for diabetes for NHS England, said: ‘The idea is that this comic book puts some of the challenges of living with Type 1 diabetes out into the public domain in a way that has not been done before.

‘Different people respond to the diagnosis in different ways – some like to talk it through, with others preferring to read books and leaflets.’

Type 1 diabetes, which usually develops before the age of 40 and affects around 400,000 people in the UK, occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin. Too much glucose can lead to organ damage and, as there is currently no cure, patients are required to take insulin on a daily basis and make healthy lifestyle choices such as reducing sugar in their diets and not smoking.

Dr Patel, who is based at Southampton General, said: ‘As a group, people with Type 1 diabetes can feel excluded and deal with ignorance about their disease on a regular basis.

‘The hope is that this comic book provides another means of spreading the Type 1 diabetes message through art and that the story will inform and educate anyone who reads it.’

Danny McLaughlin, founder of Revolve Comics, added: ‘The story follows a young man as he journeys through what would be a typical situation for any young person who would be diagnosed with Type 1 from symptoms, to diagnosis, to living with it – but it’s done with a bit of fun.’

Type 1: Origins is available at revolvecomics.com.