Finger-prick blood test could be early warning for children with type 1 diabetes
According to the researchers, all UK children could be screened for type 1 diabetes with a simple finger-prick blood test. Many young people are currently undiagnosed and put into risk of experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening disorder that necessitates urgent hospitalization. Identifying diabetes earlier can help prevent this and ensure that medications to control elevated blood sugar levels can be administered sooner. Thousands of children aged three to thirteen have already been tested as part of the ELSA (Early Surveillance for Autoimmune diabetes) research, which is sponsored by diabetes charities.
Imogen, a 12 year old girl from the West Midlands, is one of those found to have diabetes as a result of the screening. Amy's mother says knowing what's coming rather than being taken by surprise has made a huge difference in their confidence and peace of mind.
she said, being warned is being forearmed.Imogen participated in the research to advance study and help others, but it has also aided her,
Imogen is being given continual assistance to help her prepare for what's to come. Amy, who is 44 and has type 1 diabetes herself, is aware of the dangers of the condition. She was diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis at the age of 13.She was always going to have type 1 diabetes, but with ELSA we've been able to slow down the process and prepare. We know what's coming, but we aren't concerned.
she says. Imogen is now using a new drug that can be used to reduce her diabetes. It's an immunotherapy drug that helps her immune system to reduce the attack of her pancreas. The drug has been shown to prevent diabetes development by about three years, on average. It is not yet widely available on the NHS. Imogen is the second child in the United Kingdom to have it.I had no warning and ended up really poorly in hospital when I was hospitalized,
How the diabetes screening test works
Autoantibodies are a protein produced by the immune system and can damage the body's own tissues by a fingerprick blood test. These autoantibodies in diabetes attack the pancreas, the organ that controls blood sugar control. A family's history can raise the risk of type 1 diabetes, and scientists claim that certain elements in the environment, such as viruses, may play a role in the outbreak. Children without autoantibodies are unlikely to experience type 1 diabetes, according to preliminary findings from ELSA in the 17,283 children, which were published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinologyjournal and sponsored by Diabetes UK and Breakthrough T1D.
Diabetes UK's Dr Elizabeth Robertson said. However, that doesn't have to be the situation.For too many families, a child's type 1 diabetes diagnosis remains a frightening crisis,
The results from ELSA's first phase, which include type 1 diabetes, can be detected early, monitored proactively, and potentially delayed by immunotherapy,Thanks to scientific breakthroughs, we now have the ability to identify children in the very early stages of type 1 diabetes, saving families valuable time, avoiding emergency hospital admissions, and accessing therapies that can delay the need for insulin for years.
Rachel Connor, a Breakthrough T1D researcher.The next phase of the study, ELSA 2, will now screen children aged 2 to 17. The finger-prick test can be administered at home, in school, or at a GP clinic. Several other nations are also investigating whether or not diabetes screening for children should be carried out. Many children aged 1 to 17. It would be up to UK ministers to do the same as suggested by the National Screening Committee and studies such as ELSA.
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes
According to the NHS, the most common signs of type 1 diabetes are: children may have more nappies or they may start wetting the bed because they're peeing more.
