Everton defender Jake O’Brien has shared his personal experiences of living with Type 1 diabetes during a special workshop with local schoolchildren at Finch Farm, organised by Everton in the Community (EitC).
The Republic of Ireland international, who was diagnosed with the condition at the age of 16, joined pupils and teachers from five local primary schools ahead of World Diabetes Day on Saturday 14 November.
The workshop formed part of Everton in the Community’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes, challenge misconceptions and help schools create more supportive environments for children managing the condition.
Pupils from Hatton Hill Primary School, Dovedale Primary School, St Margaret Mary’s, Northcote Primary School and Rice Lane Primary School attended the event.
Working alongside the NHS, Everton in the Community is delivering diabetes awareness training to staff across its Primary Education partner schools, helping teachers develop the knowledge and confidence to support pupils living with Type 1 diabetes.
The sessions are led by Paediatric Diabetes Specialist Nurse Helen Day and Diabetes Educator Michelle Quinn from Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Ormskirk Paediatric Diabetes Team.
During the workshop, Jake joined pupils in a series of interactive activities exploring how the body processes glucose and the important role insulin plays in regulating blood sugar levels.
Using Virtuali-Tee interactive T-shirts from EitC’s Digital Skills Lab, the group also explored the human body and learned more about the pancreas and its role in producing insulin.
A question-and-answer session gave the 25-year-old footballer the opportunity to discuss his own diagnosis and experiences, while encouraging the children to feel confident about pursuing their ambitions.
Jake O’Brien said:
“I was diagnosed at the age of 16. I’d been drinking a lot of water, feeling more tired than usual and losing a lot of weight, despite trying hard to gain it.
“My parents took me to the doctors as a precaution, but my blood sugar levels were so high that I was then sent to the hospital and quickly diagnosed there.
“I didn’t know much about the condition and was looking up who else had been diagnosed. I think it’s really important for these young kids to know they can do anything they set their minds to.”
Everton in the Community hopes to extend its diabetes awareness and education programme to staff across all its Primary and Secondary Education partner schools by the end of the 2026/27 season.
The charity also plans to introduce further awareness sessions for children, helping pupils better understand the experiences of classmates living with Type 1 diabetes.
Primary Stars Senior Coordinator Elena Barton said:
“Many of our young people living with Type 1 diabetes look up to Jake, so it was really special for them to have the opportunity to meet him, share their experiences and hear about his own journey. One even refers to Jake as his ‘diabetes brother’.
“Our Primary Education team is working closely with teachers across our partner schools to bring diabetes awareness learning to life, providing continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities to help educators better understand how to support pupils living with the condition.
“This is particularly important during physical education lessons, when children’s blood glucose levels can fluctuate. We’ve had the training ourselves and now want to share it across our partner school network and beyond.”
For more information about Everton in the Community’s diabetes training sessions or opportunities to get involved in future events, email elena.barton@evertonfc.com.
