On May 20–21, 2026, the 4th Lublin Integration Days took place, organized jointly by five universities from Lublin: Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Medical University of Lublin, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, and Lublin University of Technology, which was the main organizer this year. The initiative aims to share knowledge and raise awareness of issues related to accessibility and disability. The Department of Computer Science, where the event was coordinated by Mariusz Dzieńkowski, PhD, in collaboration with Edyta Alinowska, MA, the Rector’s Plenipotentiary for Students with Disabilities at Lublin University of Technology and the event coordinator at the university, prepared a workshop that was held over two consecutive days.
The workshop, titled “Digital GABI and MIKI Teach Children with Type 1 Diabetes in Polish and English,” was led by a team including Tomasz Nowicki, PhD, Eng.; Marek Miłosz, PhD, Eng., Associate Professor; Małgorzata Plechawska-Wójcik, PhD, Eng.; Mariusz Dzieńkowski, PhD; Marcin Badurowicz, PhD, Eng.; Anna Sałamacha, MA; and Piotr Wójcicki, MSc, Eng.
The goal of the workshop was to introduce the mobile app T1DCoach, a simulator for managing therapy for children with type 1 diabetes who use an insulin pump. The workshop included both theoretical content and practical activities using the Android version of the app.
T1DCoach is an educational app designed with children with type 1 diabetes in mind. It promotes healthy living and glucose control through a game-based format. Virtual characters GABI and MIKI assist users in developing healthy eating habits and remind them to take insulin regularly. Built on the advanced T1DDS metabolic simulator, the app was developed by researchers at Lublin University of Technology in partnership with doctors, educators, and organizations supporting children with diabetes.
The app is continually evolving. An English version has already been developed, greatly expanding its reach-children and caregivers outside Poland can now access and benefit from the tool, which has the potential to reach users worldwide.
Attendees also included individuals living with type 1 diabetes. One participant shared that she had previously seen the app in the media and found it very appealing. She was especially impressed by the beautifully illustrated user guide titled “How Gabi Became a Warrior,” aimed at children. She also stressed the importance of promoting such applications more widely.
Both workshops took place over two days, on Wednesday and Thursday (May 20 and 21), at the Support Center of Lublin University of Technology, located at 38A Nadbystrzycka Street, at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of many people from the university and the Department of Computer Science, this year’s 4th Lublin Integration Days once again provided an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss the needs of, and solutions for, people with various disabilities. Events like this demonstrate that the research conducted at the university can improve lives, make living with disabilities easier, and inspire continued innovation in creating better solutions in a changing world.
