Best value
The Complete Collection: Books 1–4
£19.99£27.96Save £7.97
Superhero books for children with Type 1 Diabetes
Brave. Understood.
Brave. Understood.
Never alone.
Created from Max's real diagnosis story, Captain Lantus turns diabetes education into superhero adventures for children, parents and schools.
The Captain Lantus Collection
Four issues. One hero.
Each book follows Max through a new adventure in Beta Town, and each one explains a real part of life with Type 1 in words children understand.
Best value
Get the whole collection
All four Captain Lantus paperbacks in one go, including the brand new Book 4: Rise of T1D.
£19.99£27.96Save £7.97
New: the Captain Lantus app
Can you save Beta Town?
...while keeping your blood sugars in range! Run, jump and get Super Charged in the Captain Lantus app, out now on the App Store and Google Play.
Free online game
Play Beta Town Rescue
Our free browser game stars the whole Captain Lantus team. No download needed. Catch Insulin Cube shards, dodge the Carbanites and keep your blood sugar in range for 90 seconds.
The official theme song
Raise Captain Lantus
by GDRs · 3:45
Turn it up! The Captain Lantus theme song is out now on all major music platforms. Perfect for the school run, sports day, or getting ready for a sensor change.
Why families use them
Super powers in every book
Stories do what leaflets can't: they help a child see themselves as the hero of their own diagnosis.
1Explains Type 1
Stories help children understand diabetes in a way that makes sense to them.
2Feel less alone
Children realise lots of other kids have diabetes too.
3Learn about pumps
Pumps, CGMs and other diabetes kit explained in a child-friendly way.
4Build confidence
Our heroes show children they can achieve anything they set out to.
5Great for schools
Made for classrooms, assemblies and diabetes awareness days.
Meet the characters
Heroes & villains of Beta Town
Max guards the magical Insulin Cube. When trouble comes, he becomes Captain Lantus, with a whole team of friends beside him.
Our story
Why Captain Lantus exists
18 months oldThat's how old Max was when he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. We created Captain Lantus to help children understand diabetes through exciting stories, and to show them they can still be anything they want to be.
From the blog
Type 1 tips for families
Practical, friendly advice from our family to yours.
Reviews
What families say
Read what other families think, then tell us about your little hero. Every review is checked before it goes live.
Support our mission
Help every child become a hero
Your support helps us donate books and resources to children newly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes around the world.
The series
The Adventures of Captain Lantus
Read them in order or start anywhere. Each book stands on its own and covers a different part of growing up with Type 1.
Meet the characters
The heroes and villains of Beta Town
Tap any character to read their profile: who they are, what powers they have, and who they team up with or fight against.
The Captain Lantus app
Can you save Beta Town?
...while keeping your blood sugars in range! A superhero platformer made for children with Type 1 Diabetes. Stay in the green to get Super Charged.
£3.99 on the App Store · No ads · No tracking. Also available for Android phones and tablets.
How to play
Balance is your super power
The game turns blood sugar into something children can see and control, using the same mmol/L readings they see on their own meter.
1
Run and jump
Guide Max through Beta Town, collect coins and protect the town. You have five hearts, so be careful!
2
Watch your glucose
The Blood Glucose meter shows your level in mmol/L. Keep the marker in the green zone.
3
Get Super Charged
Stay in range and you're Super Charged with double points. Use your insulin wisely: you only get three.
MoveLeft and right arrows
JumpUp arrow
PowerLightning button
InsulinBrings a high back down
DashSpeed burst
Levels
Two worlds to explore
Start at home in Beta Town, then head into enemy territory.
Level 1
Beta Town
Captain Lantus's home town. Learn the moves, collect power-ups and keep the Insulin Cube safe.
Level 2
Carb Town
King Carb's territory, full of temptations and Carbanites. Can you stay balanced?
App leaderboard
View the app leaderboard
Get your name on the board
See the top scores from the Captain Lantus app and challenge your friends to beat you.
Get the app
Download Captain Lantus
Search for Captain Lantus in your app store, or use the buttons below.
For parents and schools
Learning that feels like playing
The game is built around the same ideas as the books, so children can read the story and then play it. It's a great way to start a conversation about highs, lows and staying in range.
Play free in your browser
Beta Town Rescue
Pick your hero, blast the villains, catch Insulin Cube shards and keep your blood sugar in range for 90 seconds to save Beta Town.
1:30
BLOOD GLUCOSE
IN RANGE! SUPER CHARGED x2
0
A Captain Lantus game
CarbanitesZap them for points. If one hits you, you lose a heart and your sugar goes up.
King CarbThrows treats. Hit him 8 times to send him packing.
T1DRed energy sends you high, blue sends you low. Hit him 10 times!
Beta Town Rescue
King Carb and T1D are after the Insulin Cube! Catch the falling cube shards, blast the villains and keep your blood sugar between 4 and 10 to stay Super Charged.
Choose your hero
Catch
Insulin Cube shardsPoints! Double points when you're in range.
InsulinCollect it, then press the insulin button to bring a high down.
Cakes, doughnuts, biscuitsThese raise your blood sugar. Dodge them, unless you're running low!
Fire at the villains
CarbanitesZap them for points. If one hits you, you lose a heart and your sugar goes up.King CarbThrows treats. Hit him 8 times to send him packing.T1DRed energy sends you high, blue sends you low. Hit him 10 times!Friends drop in to helpCatch their badges for shields, hearts, lightning and more.
Move: drag on the screen or use the arrow keys. Fire: the fire button, or hold the space bar. Insulin: the insulin button or I. Pause: P.
Paused
Mission complete
You saved Beta Town!
0Score
0%Time in range
0Cube shards
0Villains zapped
Hall of heroes
Beta Town Rescue leaderboard
Beta Town Rescue is a game. Real blood sugar targets and treatment should always come from your child's diabetes team.
The Captain Lantus blog
Type 1 tips for families
Real-life advice from our family to yours: spotting the signs, hypos, CGMs, insulin pumps, school, sport, holidays, sick days and the story behind Captain Lantus.
The Hero Shop
Gear up, little hero
Paperbacks, instant-download PDFs and gift sets. Every order helps us keep making books and donating them to newly diagnosed children.
Printed booksInstant PDFGift setsSupports a family-run mission
Special offers
Bundle & save
Buying the whole series? These sets cost less than buying the books one by one, and every set helps fund books for newly diagnosed children.
Mix &
match
match
Pick any paperbacks and the saving comes off in your basket automatically.
Any 2 £12.99Any 3 £15.00
Free for every family
Free family resources
Twelve free illustrated guides starring Captain Lantus and friends, for children, parents, carers and schools. Read them here page by page, or download the PDF to print and share. No sign-up needed.
About us
From diagnosis to superhero
Captain Lantus started at our kitchen table, with one little boy who needed a hero that looked like him.
Max was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at just 18 months old and began using an insulin pump when he was only 3. By the age of 6 he had a big idea: "My insulin pump keeps me alive, just like Iron Man's chest! That makes me an Avenger!" From that moment, Captain Lantus was born, and Gary set out to turn Max's idea into stories.
Captain Lantus is Max as a superhero. He lives in Beta Town, guards the magical Insulin Cube, and uses his insulin pump to transform when King Carb and the Carbonites come calling. Every adventure explains a real part of life with diabetes, in a way children can enjoy.
What we're working towards
We want every child newly diagnosed with Type 1 to have a hero on their bookshelf. Sales of the books and support from sponsors let us donate copies and resources to families, hospitals and schools.
1
DiagnosisMax is diagnosed with Type 1 at 18 months old, and starts on an insulin pump at 3.
2
A big ideaAged 6, Max decides his pump makes him a superhero. Captain Lantus is born.
3
The Food FestivalBook 1: Max discovers his powers and learns why insulin matters.
4
Sports DayBook 2: staying active and confident with friends.
5
Guardian of Beta TownBook 3: a school trip turns into a mission to protect the Insulin Cube.
6
Rise of T1DBook 4: Captain Nova joins the team.
Meet the team
The family behind the hero
Captain Lantus is made by one family, for every family living with Type 1.
The real-life hero
Max
Max was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at just 18 months old and began using an insulin pump when he was only 3. By the age of 6, Max had a big idea: "My insulin pump keeps me alive, just like Iron Man's chest! That makes me an Avenger!" From that moment, the idea of Captain Lantus was born.
Since then, Max has been inspiring children all over the world, not only through the Captain Lantus adventures but also by sharing his own journey of living with Type 1 Diabetes, never letting it hold him back from being the hero he truly is.
- My insulin pump doesn't hold me back, it powers me forward.
- Every challenge I face is just another step toward proving that nothing can stop me.
- Being Captain Lantus means showing kids like me that we are already superheroes.
Creator and author
Gary
Gary is Max's dad. When Max first shared his idea for Captain Lantus, Gary knew it was something special. Determined to bring his son's vision to life, he began creating the Captain Lantus stories to help Max embrace life with Type 1 Diabetes and wearing an insulin pump.
What started as a way to support his own family has grown into a mission to inspire and encourage children and families all over the world. Through Captain Lantus, Gary hopes every child with T1D sees themselves as a superhero.
- A hero is not the one who wears the cape, but the one who lifts others up to believe in their own.
- Stories can turn challenges into courage, and courage into hope.
- Captain Lantus began as Max's dream, but it has become a mission to inspire children everywhere.
The hero behind the scenes
Sarah
Sarah is Max's mum, the real superhero behind the scenes. From the day Max was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at just 18 months old, she has been by his side, making sure he stays safe and well every single day.
From waking through the night to check his blood sugars, to carefully counting carbs before every meal and constantly monitoring his levels, Sarah has never stopped fighting for Max's health. Max knows he has nothing to worry about with a mum like Sarah: his true power source, his protector, his guide and his everyday hero.
- True heroes don't always fight battles in the spotlight. Sometimes they fight quietly, every single day.
- Strength is measured not in power, but in love and the willingness to never give up.
- Max's greatest safety net has always been the heart of his mum.
Sponsorship & donations
Put a hero on every bookshelf
Every donation and sponsorship goes towards printing and sending Captain Lantus books and resources to children who have just been diagnosed.
One-off
Donate
Give any amount to help us send books to newly diagnosed children and their families.
Make a donationFor businesses
Become a sponsor
Sponsor a print run, a school pack or an awareness day, and put your name behind the mission.
Sponsorship optionsSchools & clinics
Request books
Diabetes teams, schools and charities can get in touch about books for the children they support.
Get in touchSay hello
Contact us
Questions about an order, school visits, sponsorship or the books? Send us a message.