People living with diabetes will be offered a simple but potentially life-saving tool at this year’s Roskilde Festival: a light-blue bracelet clearly stating their medical condition and basic first aid instructions.
The initiative, launched by the Danish Diabetes Association (Diabetesforeningen) in partnership with insurance company Alm. Brand, aims to provide festival-goers with diabetes an added sense of security. The free bracelets can be collected at the first aid stations on the festival grounds.
A clear message for a critical condition
The bracelet is marked with the following message: “I HAVE DIABETES. Do I seem confused? I might have low blood sugar. Give me something sugary and CALL 112. THANK YOU.”
The wording is meant to quickly inform bystanders or security personnel of the situation, avoiding confusion with intoxication—an all-too-common misinterpretation in crowded party environments. According to Claus Richter, CEO of the Diabetes Association, “Low blood sugar can be life-threatening and is often mistaken for drunkenness. Knowing what to do can be the difference between life and death.”
Diabetes in Denmark
Around 30 million people are living with diabetes in the EU, with more than 368,000 in Denmark alone—over 35,400 with type 1 diabetes and more than 332,400 with type 2. Similar prevalence rates are found in other Nordic countries, such as Sweden and Finland, where diabetes affects between 6% and 7% of the adult population.
In a festival setting where noise, alcohol and fatigue can mask early symptoms of hypoglycaemia, quick recognition and response are crucial.
This initiative is both original and important, especially given how rarely such health-specific considerations are made in large public events. The bracelet not only supports the safety of people with diabetes, but also raises general awareness of a condition that is often overlooked in social settings.
