Around 20,000 children aged between three and 13 are being asked to take part in the Diabetes Early Surveillance (Elsa) study, with recruitment starting on Monday. The aim is to assess children’s risk of type 1 diabetes at the earliest possible stage to ensure a quick and safe diagnosis and reduce the number diagnosed when they are already seriously ill. Parth Narendran, Professor of Diabetes Medicine at the University of Birmingham, said: “As general population screening programs for type 1 diabetes emerge around the world, we need to explore the best screening for children here in the UK.” He added: “We hope Elsa will lead to the development of a type 1 diabetes early detection program for children in the UK and encourage families with children of an appropriate age to consider taking part.” Up to 400,000 people in the UK are thought to have type 1 diabetes, which is a lifelong autoimmune condition. It is caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the cells of the pancreas that produce the hormone insulin, which in turn causes blood sugar levels to rise – often resulting in life-threatening complications. More than a quarter of children in the UK are not diagnosed with type 1 diabetes until they are hospitalized for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) – a serious problem that requires emergency hospital treatment. Led by experts at the University of Birmingham, scientists will use blood tests to assess children’s risk of developing type 1 diabetes. These tests will look for markers known as autoantibodies – which the immune system uses to target insulin-producing cells for destruction. Autoantibodies can show up in the blood years before people start showing symptoms of type 1 diabetes. Experts say monitoring for autoantibodies reduces the risk of diagnosis during DKA. Currently, type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin, but there are new treatments that target the immune system in the works that could prevent or delay the condition. Children found to be at high risk during the screening program could be invited to take part in research testing these treatments, the scientists said. Children and their families will have support and education to help them prepare for a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, experts added. Dr Elizabeth Robertson, director of research at Diabetes UK, which is co-funding the study with the not-for-profit organization JDRF, said: “Identifying children at high risk of type 1 diabetes could put them and their families on the front lines. foot, helping to ensure a safe and soft landing at a terminal diagnosis, avoiding DKA and reducing the risk of life-changing complications.” He added: “Extra years without the condition means a childhood no longer lived with blood sugar checks and insulin injections, free from the relentless and emotional burden of type 1 diabetes.”
