There are three stages of type 1 diabetes (T1D), but today, most people are not diagnosed until they experience symptoms in the final stage. You can get ahead of T1D by screening for risk before symptoms arise, insulin is required, and potential complications occur. Screening can give you the knowledge you need to help:
Screening can also reduce risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication of T1D, by 50% in people who are newly diagnosed.
A blood test either ordered online or through your healthcare provider can identify risk for T1D by searching for proteins in the blood called autoantibodies. Autoantibodies signal that the body’s immune system is attacking the insulin producing cells in the pancreas.
If a person has two or more persistent autoantibodies, they are considered at high risk for developing type 1 diabetes.
To learn more about screening options visit https://www.jdrf.org/t1d-resources/t1detect/.
Negative results: If you’re the parent of a child under the age of 18 who has tested negative, you may consider having them rescreened in the future.
Positive results: It’s important to follow up immediately for confirmatory testing and to talk with your doctor about establishing a monitoring and management plan.