Diabetes Screening and Your Child

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As many as 3 million people in the United States have type 1 diabetes, a lifelong disease that typically is diagnosed in children and young adults. A simple blood test can determine if your child may be at risk for developing type 1 diabetes. Here's what you should know about screening your child.

WHAT IS TYPE 1 DIABETES?

It's a chronic condition that develops when a person's body attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, a hormone the body needs to convert food into energy. About 1 in 10 Americans with diabetes have type 1. The rest have the most common form of the disease, known as type 2.

People with type 1 diabetes take insulin injections to replace the insulin their body no longer produces. There is no cure for type 1 diabetes. But with treatment, people with this condition can live long, healthy and happy lives.

IS MY CHILD AT RISK FOR DEVELOPING TYPE 1 DIABETES?

Relatives of people with type 1 diabetes have a 10- to 15-times greater risk of developing the disease than people with no family history of diabetes. Your child may be at risk if he or she has a brother, parent, cousin or other family member with type 1 diabetes. If a family member was diagnosed with diabetes before age 40 and started taking insulin injections shortly after being diagnosed, then he or she probably has type 1.

WHAT IS A DIABETES SCREENING TEST?

It's a simple blood test to check whether or not your child has certain proteins - known as autoantibodies - that are associated with the development of type 1 diabetes. A small sample of blood is drawn from your child's arm and sent for analysis to a laboratory that specializes in the study of type 1 diabetes.

You may choose to have the test conducted at Riley Hospital for Children - a designated site for diabetes screening. Or, you can request a screening kit and have the blood test done at your physician's office.

You'll be notified by mail if the test is negative, meaning the blood test showed no autoantibodies were present. If the test is positive - and autoantibodies are present - you'll receive a phone call to discuss the results and next steps.

It's important to note that family members of people with type 2 diabetes are not eligible for this diabetes screening test.

WHAT DOES A POSITIVE RESULT MEAN?

A positive test doesn't mean your child will develop type 1 diabetes. It means he or she has a greater chance of getting the disease than someone who tested negative. If your child's screening is positive, we'll discuss the results with you, as well as other testing options to determine more precisely your child's risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR MY CHILD TO BE SCREENED?

By having your child tested for the presence of diabetes-related autoantibodies, you'll learn if he or she has a greater risk for developing type 1 diabetes. People at higher risk may choose to have additional testing to further define their risk for developing diabetes. They'll also receive information about prevention studies. Early detection of type 1 diabetes may improve bloodsugar control and reduce the risk of developing diabetes-related complications, including heart, kidney and eye problems.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

Talk with your family physician about diabetes screening, or call the Riley TrialNet Clinical Research Team at 866-230-8486.