Breakthrough T1D funds an early detection program called Type1Screen, which provides free screening to family members of people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to test whether they are in the early stages of T1D themselves.
Decades of research, much of it funded by Breakthrough T1D, has shown that there are detectable changes in people before they start to show the symptoms of T1D. These changes are proteins called autoantibodies that appear in the blood and can be detected through screening blood tests. People who have these proteins have ‘early-stage’ or ‘pre-symptomatic’ T1D, and will eventually progress to stage 3 T1D, where they need to start taking insulin. People in stages 1 and 2 T1D don’t experience any symptoms, so the only way to identify them is through a blood test. Learn more about the stages of T1D.
What’s involved in Type1Screen?
Detecting the early stages of T1D involves a simple blood test. This can be done at home using a fingerpick test where 5 drops of blood are put on a card. The card is sent to a lab in Melbourne where the blood is analysed for the presence of islet autoantibodies.
If the test is positive for autoantibodies, a venous blood test (needle in the arm) at a clinic is required to confirm the findings. If confirmed, you will be put in contact with the closest participating monitoring centre for education and follow-up. You will also be offered opportunities to participate in clinical trials that aim to prevent or delay the onset of Stage 3 T1D. Current T1D clinical trials and studies recruiting in Australia can be found on our clinical trials and studies page.
Why get screened for T1D?
Identifying if someone is in the early stages of T1D can bring about both short- and long-term health benefits to both the person and their family.
These include:
- Delay the progression of T1D: Disease-modifying therapies exist that can slow down the progression of T1D and delay the need for insulin therapy. A drug called teplizumab is approved for people in stage 2 T1D, but the only way to know if you have stage 2 T1D is through screening. Several other disease-modifying therapies are being tested in clinical trials. Finding out that you are in early-stage T1D enables you to take part in these trials, helping to advance research and delay the onset of stage 3 T1D.
- Reducing the trauma of diagnosis: By picking up T1D early, we can better support families so that the transition to treatment is less sudden and stressful.
- Reducing diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis: Detection of early-stage T1D, combined with monitoring and education, can significantly reduce the rate of developing a dangerous condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA is where the body uses fat instead of sugar for energy, causing acid to build up in the blood – left untreated, this can be fatal. DKA at diagnosis of T1D is also linked with worse long-term health effects, so preventing it from happening is important.
Get screened through Type1Screen
People who are eligible for screening under Type1Screen must be:
- aged over 2 years
- live in Australia
- have a relative diagnosed with T1D
- Or have previously tested positive for an islet antibody test.
Screening family members is important as they are at higher risk of developing T1D compared to the general population.
If you meet these criteria, sign up for Type1Screen today.
Breakthrough T1D’s role in supporting screening for T1D
Type1Screen has been supported by Breakthrough T1D’s Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Network (T1DCRN) since 2019. We fund Professor John Wentworth to lead Type1Screen and scale it up, with the end goal of establishing the laboratory infrastructure for population screening at a national level in Australia. This is part of our wider initiative to advance early detection of T1D in Australia, which involves three complementary research projects.
One family’s story of Type1Screen
Nicole Mum to Alyssia and ChelseaOn a mission to help my partner Mathew (diagnosed at 26) better manage his own type 1 diabetes, I stumbled across Type1Screen. I didn’t hesitate to register our daughters Alyssia (10) and Chelsea (5).  I had my suspicions about Alyssia, so when we received a phone call from the Type1Screen team I wasn’t surprised. She had tested positive for the antibodies. 
On March 16 bloods were taken, and a glucose test was done to confirm her levels. On March 18 she was clinically diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
As upsetting as it was to find out Alyssia had type 1 like her dad, we are extremely happy it happened the way it did. Thanks to Type1Screen Alyssia presented to the hospital as a healthy happy kid when most start off in ICU, so for that we are honoured to have found Type1Screen. I’ve now arranged for Chelsea to be screened every 6 months.
Where can I find more information?
You can find more information on the Type1Screen website, Facebook, Instagram or by emailing [email protected]. More information can also be found on the Type1Screen FAQs.
