Co-founder Nick Jonas, board member Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Beyond Type 1 have launched #TheBeyondType in India. Nick Jonas, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 13, co-founded the diabetes non-profit Beyond Type 1 ten years ago, and #TheBeyondType marks the organisation’s first campaign in India. The campaign shares real lived experiences to challenge stigma and highlight that diabetes does not define those living with type 1 diabetes. It aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma and support grassroots organisations doing critical work on the ground.
India has more young people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) than any other country in the world and the second highest number of people living with diabetes overall, yet awareness remains low and stigma persists. #TheBeyondType highlights individuals thriving with type 1 diabetes while pursuing their goals. The campaign recognises them as the unstoppable type, the determined type, the relentless type and the inspiring type, reinforcing that type 1 diabetes does not define who they are.
“India has extraordinary people living with Type 1 diabetes, yet their stories are rarely heard,” shared Priyanka Chopra Jonas. “I came to understand this community more deeply through my husband Nick, and I’ve witnessed firsthand the strength and determination that so many people living with T1D carry every single day. The Beyond Type brings a few of these stories forward, and shows that with proper care and access, diabetes does not define them or limit what they can achieve.”
“I know for myself how diabetes doesn’t have to limit you, but only when you have access to the right care, tools, and support,” says Nick Jonas. “That’s why we’re here in India, where awareness is low and stigma remains high, to help make that possible for everyone. Through my own family, I’ve come to love India deeply, and I’m proud of the progress already underway”.
#TheBeyondType launched on Instagram through a joint post by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Nick Jonas and Beyond Type 1, reaching a combined audience of 135 million. The campaign features stories of individuals whose journeys demonstrate that diabetes does not stop them from pursuing their ambitions: triathlete Lt Col Kumar Gaurav; 13-year-old karate champion Mehrin Rana; pastry chef Nishant Amin; toy designer and entrepreneur Shreya Jain; dancer and actor Indu Thampy; and vegetable vendor and marathon runner Harichandran Ponnusamy. As Mehrin shares, “Diabetes is just a part of my life, not a limit. A person with type 1 can do everything in their life without any limits.”
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, not something caused by lifestyle or age. Stigma keeps many families from recognising early signs — excessive thirst, frequent urination, unusual fatigue and unexpected weight loss. When signals are missed, diagnosis is delayed. By sharing real stories through #TheBeyondType, the campaign aims to build early awareness and address harmful misconceptions.
Watch the campaign here:
Recent research underscores the need for awareness. A study published in PLOS Global Public Health, Invisible Inequities in Type 1 Diabetes Care in India, found that many young people hide their diagnosis, avoid or delay insulin injections in public to escape judgement and face pressure — especially girls — to stay silent due to concerns around marriage. The study reported that young people with T1D are frequently viewed as weak or treated differently in school and workplaces, reflecting how stigma shapes daily life and access to care.
The same focus on lived experience that drives #TheBeyondType also supports Beyond Type 1’s partnerships with grassroots organisations in high-need regions across India. HRIDAY (Delhi–NCR) is strengthening school and community awareness around early signs and prevention. Nityaasha Foundation (Pune, Maharashtra) supports children from underserved backgrounds living with T1D through education, guidance and medical assistance. Gram Jyoti (Deoghar, Jharkhand) works to build early health awareness in classrooms to help families understand chronic conditions. SAMATVAM Trust (Bangalore, Karnataka) empowers girls with T1D through medical care, financial support and life skills training to help them stay in school and build independent futures.
“At Beyond Type 1 we believe real change begins with the people closest to the work on the ground,” said Seema Srivastava, Beyond Type 1’s Director of Social Impact and Global Advocacy. “By partnering with grassroots organisations, we are helping families recognise early signs, reduce shame and misinformation, and access education, supplies and peer support.”
