Not medical advice – just one San Diego T1D parent talking through a local free screening day. Always check with your care team about screening for your family.
Honestly, most local health event emails never make it past my phone. They land somewhere between “sign the permission slip” and “who needs more juice boxes,” and then I forget they existed.
This one stuck out because it was right here in San Diego: a free Type 1 diabetes screening event at Petco Park, put on with the Padres, Beyond Type 1, and the King of the Hill Foundation. They called it No Curveballs. Local news said it was Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Gallagher Square – free screening (no insurance needed), some education booths, family activities, and a few Padres folks involved. Details were in CBS 8 / Yahoo, the East Village listing, and Beyond Type 1’s event page.
When I checked, registration was already closed because so many people signed up. So this is not a “drop everything and go” post if you are reading it late. It is more: hey, this is the kind of thing that shows up here, and here is how I think about it as a parent.
Why I even cared
We already live with T1D in the house. The people who do not always “get it” are the ones who might still benefit from early screening – a sibling, a cousin, a grandparent who thinks you only get diabetes if you look sick.
Those people are not going to book a special lab appointment on a random Tuesday. They might, though, show up for free parking, a short walk by the ballpark, and something that feels like a normal San Diego Saturday instead of a medical errand. That is not silly. That is just how busy families work.
We have written before about how early detection can feel like a little more time and breathing room. A free community day is one more way that conversation gets easier for people who are not living this 24/7.
Who I would have texted
I would not spam the whole group chat. I would quietly text a couple of people:
- Family members who are related to someone with T1D and keep saying they will “look into screening later”
- The relative with little kids who only does health stuff if it is free and already on the calendar
- Maybe a grandparent who can handle a crowd and would actually follow up with their doctor after
I would not pressure our kid with T1D to be the star of a three-hour awareness event if they just wanted a normal day. Some kids love meet-and-greets. Some do not. Both are fine.
A text I would actually send:
“There’s a free T1D risk screening at Petco this weekend – not a diagnosis, just a simple screening, no insurance needed. Super low-key if you were curious. Want the link?”
If you went – or if you missed it
If you made it in: great. Just remember a free event is not the same as sitting down with your endo or pediatrician. If something comes back from screening, loop in your care team and ask what it means for your family. Do not try to figure it all out from a booth.
If you missed it: that is okay. Screening does not only happen at ballparks. You can still ask your doctor about autoantibody screening for relatives, or watch for the next free local day. We keep a soft eye out for San Diego stuff like this so the next one is not a total surprise.
What we are not doing
We are not changing anyone’s care plan because there was a Padres event. We are not ordering random tests online at midnight. And we are not guilt-tripping relatives who are not ready.
We are willing to pass along the easy invites when they show up – and leave the medical decisions with the people who should make them.
Bottom line
No Curveballs was a free, local, family-friendly T1D screening day at Petco Park. Useful if you could get in. Still useful as a reminder that sometimes the easiest way to help family is a simple text and a low-pressure Saturday – not a lecture.
Is a free screening at a sports event the same as seeing a doctor?
No. It can be a helpful first step. Your care team still owns follow-up and what results mean.
Who are these free screenings usually for?
Often people who do not already have a T1D diagnosis – including relatives who may be at higher risk. Always read the event rules, because they vary.
What if registration was already full?
Ask your doctor about screening options, and keep an eye out for the next community event. Missing one day is not failing.
Not medical advice. We are parents sharing how we think about local opportunities. Talk with your child’s diabetes care team before acting on any screening results or changing anyone’s care.
Sources: CBS 8 / Yahoo; East Village San Diego; Beyond Type 1 – No Curveballs. Related: screening and the gift of time.
