Finger-prick blood test could be early warning for children with type 1 diabetes

Screening Study Offers Hope for Early Type 1 Diabetes Detection

According to researchers, every child in the UK could soon be screened for type 1 diabetes using a simple finger-prick blood test. Currently, many young people remain undiagnosed until they develop diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)—a life-threatening condition requiring urgent hospitalisation. Identifying the condition earlier can prevent such crises and ensure that treatments to manage elevated blood sugar levels are administered sooner.

Thousands of children aged three to thirteen have already been tested as part of the ELSA (Early Surveillance for Autoimmune Diabetes) study, which is funded by leading diabetes charities.

"Forewarned is Forearmed"

Twelve-year-old Imogen, from the West Midlands, is one of the children identified as having type 1 diabetes through the screening. Her mother, Amy, says that knowing what lies ahead—rather than being taken by surprise—has significantly boosted their confidence and peace of mind.

While Imogen initially joined the study to help others, she admits the results have been invaluable to her personally, noting that "to be forewarned is to be forearmed."

"She was always going to develop type 1 diabetes, but through ELSA, we’ve been able to slow the process and prepare," Amy explained. "We know what is coming, but we aren't frightened."

Imogen is receiving ongoing support to prepare for the future. Amy, 44, who also lives with type 1 diabetes, understands the risks better than most; she was diagnosed at 13 after suffering from DKA. "I had no warning and ended up extremely ill in hospital," she recalled.

Breakthrough Treatments

Imogen is now among the first in the UK to receive a pioneering immunotherapy drug. This treatment helps the immune system reduce its attack on the pancreas and has been shown to delay the onset of diabetes by an average of three years. While it is not yet widely available on the NHS, Imogen is only the second child in the country to access it.

How the Screening Works

The test identifies autoantibodies—proteins produced by the immune system that mistakenly attack the body's own tissues. In the case of type 1 diabetes, these proteins target the pancreas, the organ responsible for regulating blood sugar.

While family history can increase risk, scientists believe environmental factors, such as viruses, may also trigger the condition. Preliminary findings from the ELSA study of 17,283 children, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, suggest that children without these autoantibodies are highly unlikely to develop type 1 diabetes.

"For too many families, a child’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis remains a frightening crisis," said Dr Elizabeth Robertson of Diabetes UK. "However, that doesn’t have to be the case. We now have the ability to identify children in the very early stages, avoiding emergency admissions and accessing therapies that can delay the need for insulin for years."

The Future of ELSA

Rachel Connor, a researcher at Breakthrough T1D, added that the first phase of ELSA proves the condition can be detected early and monitored proactively. The next phase, ELSA 2, will expand screening to children aged 2 to 17.

The finger-prick test can be carried out at home, in schools, or at GP surgeries. While several other nations are investigating similar programmes, a UK-wide rollout would require a recommendation from the National Screening Committee and approval from government ministers.