Our mission

A world without type 1 diabetes!

That is the ultimate goal we pursue at the Hippo & Friends type 1 diabetes fund. The fund supports scientific research into the causes and progression of type 1 diabetes, as well as into new medicines and treatments to prevent and cure it. Progress is certainly being made, but fundamental research moves forward in small steps without quick results, and we have to be honest about that in our communication with patients. It is important that scientists listen to patients too.

Raising awareness matters just as much. There are still far too many misconceptions about type 1 diabetes. This chronic autoimmune condition strikes at random in children and young adults who live perfectly healthy lives. Around 50,000 Belgians currently live with type 1 diabetes, and figures from the Belgian Diabetes Register (BDR) show that roughly 10 new type 1 patients under the age of 40 per 100,000 inhabitants are diagnosed each year. Strikingly, type 1 diabetes is being diagnosed at an ever younger age. Through the fund and the non-profit of the same name, vzw Hippo and Friends, we want to make the general public aware of type 1 diabetes and its impact through various channels and media, and to invest in developing educational materials and programmes. Improving the quality of life of people with type 1 diabetes is close to our hearts, which is why we invest in educational sports projects such as diaT1op.