RESEARCHERS in Oxford have launched the first UK study in the general population to test for early markers of type 1 diabetes, before children develop symptoms or need insulin.
The study, which is supported by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre and the Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics at the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Medicine, is being offered when children have their pre-school vaccination and involves a finger prick and a few drops of blood.
It will initially involve 60 children being screened in two GP practices in the Thames Valley when they attend their pre-school booster vaccination.
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Researchers say that early diagnosis can help prevent the life-threatening illness that can occur if type 1 diabetes is diagnosed late.
Early treatment can avoid the need for intensive care and hospital admissions as well as reducing the stress that accompanies an unexpected diagnosis.
T1D is the commonest autoimmune disease of childhood, affecting one in 350 children. It is caused by the destruction of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in elevated blood sugar levels.
This long-term condition results in life-long insulin dependence and increased risk of major health problems, including heart disease, blindness and kidney failure.
Dr Rachel Besser, a paediatric diabetes consultant at Oxford University Hospitals and chief investigator on the study at the University of Oxford, said: “We now have an accurate test, which just requires a simple finger prick blood sample, that can identify children who will develop T1D before they get any symptoms. So far, the test is proving popular.
“If we can identify children very early in the course of the disease, it allows them and their families time to adjust to the diagnosis and learn about diabetes while the child is still well.
“Early diagnosis also has the benefit of allowing insulin treatment to begin earlier, preventing the child developing diabetic ketoacidosis before the diagnosis is made and avoiding them ever having to go through the worrying experience of being admitted to hospital.
"New drugs are now coming on the market which offer hope to delay the onset of diabetes.”
Mark Harris, whose 10-year-old son Jake has T1D, said they had to rush him into hospital before they were aware of his condition.
Mr Harris, who lives in Banbury, said: "I carried him into A&E, and he went downhill really quickly. He ended up in intensive care in the middle of the night. The whole thing was horrific.
“When they told me it was type 1, I had no idea as there wasn't a family history. We spent three more days in hospital learning what we needed to do. The reality is still sinking in.
“A study like this is so important. The child’s health is paramount, but the impact on the family is huge.
“Early diagnosis allows the parents to mentally prepare and digest what this will mean for them, as they will need to manage the condition for the child into their mid-teens or beyond.”
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This story was written by Anna Colivicchi, she joined the team this year and covers health stories for the Oxfordshire papers.
Get in touch with her by emailing: Anna.colivicchi@newsquest.co.uk
Follow her on Twitter @AnnaColivicchi
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