Diabetes: Ready for Anything
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Diabetes: Ready for anything

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There’s nothing more important than your child’s health and well-being. That’s why we’re giving you the lowdown on type 1 diabetes—an autoimmune condition that can affect your loved ones and often goes undetected in its early stages. Recognizing the risk factors and staying alert to early signs and symptoms is essential, and early screening is key to staying a step ahead. Let’s navigate this journey together.

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Is your child at risk of type 1 diabetes?

Here’s what to know.

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Type 1 diabetes is often called the “invisible disease.” Watch these mamas talk about their experiences with TD1—and why you should get your children screened for it, too.

Resources to keep your family healthy

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells (beta cells) in the pancreas. This results in little to no insulin production, leading to high blood sugar levels.

Type 1 diabetes typically progresses through three distinct stages. During Stage 1, the immune system begins attacking the insulin-producing cells, yet the body can still produce insulin to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Symptoms are usually absent during this stage. Stage 2 marks the presence of autoimmunity, but again, symptoms have likely not yet appeared. Finally, Stage 3 represents the clinical stage in which symptoms become apparent, and the need for insulin treatment arises.

As a parent, you’ll want to watch for signs such as excessive thist, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, extreme fatigue, and increased hunger in your child. These symptoms can easily be disguised as normal childhood occurrences, but if your mama bear instincts are telling you something is off, don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s pediatrician for a thorough evaluation.

While the exact cause of type 1 diabetes is not fully understood, having a family history of the condition can increase the risk by 15%. However, most children with type 1 diabetes have no family history of the disease. In addition to genetic factors, certain viral infections, including strains of coxsackievirus (a type of enterovirus), measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), and even COVID-19, have been linked to the onset of type 1 diabetes. Moreover, if your child has previously been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, such as celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, pernicious anemia, or thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto’s, it’s essential to stay vigilant and keep a close eye on their health.

Yes! There are actually three easy ways to get your child tested for type 1 diabetes. You can get a test kit shipped directly to your home from Enable Biosciences, request a test kit from TrialNet to be taken at home or at a participating lab (available for those that have a relative with T1D), or schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician who can either administer the test or give you a referral to a participating lab in your area.

Early screening for type 1 diabetes in children is crucial as it enables prompt intervention, reducing the risk of life-threatening complications like diabetic ketoacidosis. Early identification of Stage 1 or Stage 2 T1D can allow for more regular screening and possibly even medical advancements to delay the onset of Stage 3 type 1 diabetes. Furthermore, early screening supports the psychological well-being of children and their families, aiding their adjustment to life with diabetes.

An effective care team for your child may include a pediatrician, certified nutritionist, endocrinologist, mental health professional, and other specialists. However, as parents, it’s important to remember that you also require support. Upon hearing a T1D diagnosis, it’s common to feel a mix of emotions, including grief, confusion, and overwhelm. Fortunately, there are incredible online communities, like Type One Together, that provide invaluable social and emotional support. 

15x

Family history is a significant risk factor for type 1 diabetes. Individuals with a family history of type 1 diabetes are 15x more likely (that’s 1 in 20) to develop T1D than those with no family history, who have a risk of about 1 in 300. Certain viral infections and autoimmune conditions can also put your child at higher risk.

≥50%

Early screening for type 1 diabetes can reduce diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA; a potentially life-threatening complication related to diabetes) at onset by ≥50%. Early autoantibody screening can identify those most at risk of developing Stage 3 T1D. Heightened awareness and timely intervention have the potential to improve outcomes at presentation and prevent serious complications such as DKA.

300K people

Approximately 300k people face an elevated risk of developing Stage 3 type 1 diabetes. Familial history is a strong predictor for T1D; focusing on the family of patients for T1D can help identifying presympomatic (Stage 1 and 2) patients.

3 ways

Luckily, there are three easy ways to get your child tested for type 1 diabetes. You can get a test kit shipped directly to your home from Enable Biosciences, request a test kit from TrialNet to be taken at home or at a participating lab (available for those that have a relative with T1D), or schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician who can either administer the test or give you a referral to a participating lab in your area.

3 stages

Type 1 diabetes progresses in three stages. Stages 1 and 2 are considered pre-insulin-dependent T1D, where the body can still produce enough insulin to maintain relatively healthy blood sugar levels. In Stage 3, the body can no longer produce sufficient insulin to regular blood sugar effectively, requiring lifelong insulin management, known as insulin-dependent T1D.

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Sources

1. Gottesman BL, et al. “Incidence of new-onset type 1 diabetes among US children during the COVID-19 global pandemic.” JAMA Pediatr 2022; doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.5801

2. “Know Your Risks.” Screen for Type 1. https://www.screenfortype1.com/know-your-risk/.

3. Richardson SJ, Morgan NG. Enteroviral infections in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes: new insights for therapeutic intervention. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2018;43:11-19. doi:10.1016/j.coph.2018.07.006

4. Ramondetti F, Sacco S, Comelli M, et al. Type 1 diabetes and measles, mumps and rubella childhood infections within the Italian Insulin-dependent Diabetes Registry. Diabet Med. 2012;29(6):761-766. doi:10.1111/j.1464-5491.2011.03529.x

5. D’Souza D, Empringham J, Pechlivanoglou P, Uleryk EM, Cohen E, Shulman R. Incidence of Diabetes in Children and Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(6):e2321281. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.21281

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