Type 1 Diabetes Families Make the Case for Earlier Action at Friends for Life 2026

 

Sponsored by Sanofi

Every year, the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community travels to Friends for Life – the world’s largest gathering of people and families impacted by T1D – right here in Orlando, Florida.

This year was no exception. More than 2,000 attendees rallied together to connect, learn, and explore the latest advances in T1D management. At its core, Friends for Life is all about bringing empowerment to T1D care, educating families so they can recognize and respond to their T1D risk. But even more broadly, it transforms the Disney Coronado Springs Resort into a safe haven for T1D families to share their stories, find support, and feel truly understood. That’s where the magic happens.

The spirit of community was on full display during an educational lunch session, where patients, caregivers, and advocates from across the country gathered to discuss TZIELD^® (teplizumab-mzwv) injection 2mg/2mL—a prescription medicine used to delay the onset of Stage 3 type 1 diabetes (T1D) in adults and children 1 year of age and older who have Stage 2 T1D. It is not known if TZIELD is safe and effective in children under 1 year of age who have Stage 2 T1D. There is limited evidence of TZIELD being safe and effective in people 45 years of age and older with Stage 2 T1D. TZIELD is not effective as a disease modifying therapy in non-autoimmune dysglycemic conditions. These are conditions when your blood sugar goes too high and is not caused by your immune system. Do not take TZIELD if you have a weakened immune system (immunocompromised) or have an active viral infection such as EBV or CMV infection.

TZIELD may cause serious side effects including viral reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) which are common and may stay inactive in your body after an initial infection. Viral reactivation can occur during treatment and for up to 2 months after your last dose and can be potentially life-threatening, especially in people with a weakened immune system, including if you have Down syndrome. TZIELD may also cause other serious side effects including cytokine release syndrome, serious infections, a decrease in your white blood cell counts which can affect your body’s ability to fight infections, and allergic reactions. Tell your doctor right away if you develop fever swollen glands or lymph nodes, tiredness, muscle and joint pain, severe stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, with or without vomiting, redness, warmth or swelling of the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, headache, cough, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, a serious infection or one that does not go away or have recently received or are planning any vaccines, as TZIELD may affect how well they work. The most common side effects of TZIELD include decrease in white blood cell counts, vomiting, rash, diarrhea, increase in liver enzyme levels and headache. These are not all the possible side effects with TZIELD. Talk to your doctor for more information. Keep reading for full ISI.

 

During the lunch session, titled More than One Path: Real Stories, panelists shared their experiences as patients and caregivers, from making the decision to screen for T1D, to understanding their options, and ultimately deciding to move forward with TZIELD for stage 2 T1D to delay the onset of stage 3. The room was buzzing, and for good reason. On the ground at Orlando, here’s a closer look at a couple takeaways from the session:

 You don’t have to wait for the symptoms of T1D to take action

T1D care has long been seen as reactive – with many waiting for T1D symptoms to arise before taking action. But that is beginning to change. Early autoantibody screening can help detect T1D early, helping people understand whether they’re at risk of developing the disease before serious, potentially life-threatening complications arise.

As Kathleen, a mom who lives with T1D and a caregiver to her daughter who was infused with TZIELD after being diagnosed with Stage 2 T1D, shared at the lunch, “One great thing about the difference between the time I was diagnosed and the time my daughter was diagnosed is that today, awareness of T1D can begin with screening. In turn, that can lead to education, informed decisions, and understanding management options.”

Early information can open up important conversations about what’s next, including whether TZIELD might be an option to help delay the onset of Stage 3 T1D, the stage when signs of T1D appear and daily insulin dependence begins.

 Early action can help you understand your options

For many T1D families, early action can make all the difference. The panelists talked about how knowing sooner gave them the time to understand their treatment options with their doctor and shared how the opportunity to delay insulin-dependent Stage 3 T1D with TZIELD has since impacted their lives.

Alisha, a mom to daughter, Alison, who was infused with TZIELD, talked about what this experience was like for her family: “Screening revealed that Alison was positive for multiple T1D-related autoantibodies. She was diagnosed in Stage 1 T1D and once she progressed to Stage 2 T1D, we worked with our healthcare team to understand our options. They told us TZIELD had the potential to delay the onset of Stage 3 T1D, so we were very eager to see if Alison was a candidate. After learning that she was eligible, we made the decision to move forward.”

Today, Alison is still in Stage 2 T1D and is a busy student at college. As Alison shared, “I am thrilled that I have been able to focus on college without yet having to manage Stage 3 T1D.” Alison and Alisha’s experience is a testament to what early action can mean for a family, allowing a diagnosis story to turn into a journey of empowerment.

Events like Friends for Life offer the T1D community an opportunity to discuss personal experiences, the latest advancements, and more. Grassroots advocacy and community engagement have long played an important role in moving progress forward. As the landscape evolves, so too must the conversations surrounding T1D to ensure families can make informed decisions about the future.

That’s why the educational lunch was such a meaningful part of this year’s event. By bringing together a group of panelists with personal connections to T1D, the session made complex topics about T1D more digestible and leveraged personal experiences to encourage attendees to talk to their doctor about T1D risk factors, screening, and the options that may be available to them.

Learn more at TZIELD.com.

Kathleen, Alisha, and Alison are TZIELD Brand Ambassadors.  

What is TZIELD?

TZIELD is a prescription medicine used to delay the onset of Stage 3 type 1 diabetes (T1D) in adults and children 1 year of age and older who have Stage 2 T1D.

It is not known if TZIELD is safe and effective in children under 1 year of age who have Stage 2 T1D.

There is limited evidence of TZIELD being safe and effective in people 45 years of age and older with Stage 2 T1D.

TZIELD is not effective as a disease modifying therapy in non-autoimmune dysglycemic conditions.  These are conditions when your blood sugar goes too high and is not caused by your immune system.

Do not take TZIELD if you have a weakened immune system (immunocompromised) or have an active viral infection such as EBV or CMV infection.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about TZIELD?

TZIELD may cause serious side effects, including:

• Viral Reactivation. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are common viruses that may stay inactive in your body after an initial infection. TZIELD may cause these viruses to become active again which, especially in people with a weakened immune system, can become serious and potentially life-threatening. These infections can happen during treatment with TZIELD and for up to 2 months after your last dose. Your healthcare provider will test you for active EBV and CMV infections before treatment with TZIELD. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you develop symptoms of an infection during or after treatment with TZIELD (such as fever, swollen glands, or fatigue).
• Cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Signs and symptoms may start during the first 5 days of TZIELD treatment and could include fever, nausea (with or without vomiting), feeling tired (fatigue), headache, muscle and joint pain, or increased liver enzymes in your blood. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs and symptoms of CRS during treatment with TZIELD.
• Serious Infections. Treatment with TZIELD may lower your immune system’s ability to fight infections, which may increase your risk of getting a serious infection. TZIELD is not recommended if you currently have a serious infection, or an infection that keeps coming back or does not go away (chronic infection), other than a minor skin infection.  Contact your healthcare provider right away if you develop symptoms of an infection during or after treatment with TZIELD such as:  fever or chills; redness, warmth, or swelling of the skin; feeling tired; cough or shortness of breath; severe stomach pain or diarrhea.
• Decrease in white blood cells. TZIELD may cause a decrease in a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. A decrease in white blood cells is a serious, but common side effect that can affect your body’s ability to fight infections. A decrease in white blood cell counts can happen after your first dose. Your white blood cell counts will start to go back to normal after your fifth dose of TZIELD. Some people may develop longer and more severe decreases in lymphocytes.

Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check for active infections, verify your liver function and your complete blood counts before you start treatment and during treatment with TZIELD. During and after your treatment with TZIELD, your healthcare provider will check for side effects, and treat you as needed. Your healthcare provider may temporarily or completely stop your treatment with TZIELD, if you develop liver problems, have a serious infection or viral reactivation, or if your blood counts stay too low.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before receiving TZIELD?

Before or after receiving TZIELD, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• have any of the conditions or symptoms listed in the section “What is the most important information I should know about TZIELD?”
• have a weakened immune system, including if you have Down syndrome.
• have a serious infection or an infection that does not go away or keeps coming back (chronic).
• have recently received or are scheduled to receive an immunization (vaccine). TZIELD may affect how well a vaccine works. Tell your healthcare provider that you are receiving treatment with TZIELD before receiving a vaccine. Your healthcare provider will tell you when you can safely receive any vaccine before and after the treatment with TZIELD.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. TZIELD may harm your unborn baby. Do not receive TZIELD during pregnancy and at least 30 days before a planned pregnancy.

If you become pregnant while taking TZIELD, you are encouraged to report your pregnancy to us at our Adverse Event reporting line at 1-800-633-1610 or visit https://ae.reporting.sanofi.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if TZIELD passes into your breast milk and if it can harm your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you receive TZIELD.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

 

What are the possible side effects of TZIELD?

TZIELD may cause serious side effects including:

• See “What is the most important information I should know about TZIELD?”
• Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions: Serious allergic reactions can happen while receiving TZIELD. Your healthcare provider will watch you closely while you are receiving TZIELD and after your infusion for signs of a reaction. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:
• fever, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes (serum sickness)
• urticaria
• vomiting
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat (angioedema)
• rash
• trouble breathing

The most common side effects of TZIELD include:

• decrease in white blood cell counts
• vomiting
• rash
• diarrhea
• increase in liver enzyme levels
• headache

These are not all of the possible side effects of TZIELD. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to us at 1-800-633-1610 or visit https://ae.reporting.sanofi.

Please click for full Prescribing Information, including Risk of SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS and Medication Guide.