Landmark study sees early diabetes diagnosis
Screening of a patient at our Children’s Hospital through a landmark study has led to early detection of type 1 diabetes.
Imogen Norman, aged 12, took part in the ELSA (Early Surveillance for Autoimmune diabetes) study at the Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at the hospital, which found she had the disease.
As a result she received a new type of drug designed to delay her diabetes called Teplizumab, which helps calm her immune system to slow its attack of her pancreas.
Imogen along with another patient from the hospital were the first to receive the drug in the UK.
The study is co-funded by charities Diabetes UK and Breakthrough T1D and led by researchers at University of Birmingham.
Dr Renuka Dias, Consultant in Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at our hospital and a University of Birmingham Honorary Associate Clinical Professor, said: “I am very proud to have been part of the ELSA research team and this major study. It has been a privilege to offer my patients early access to a therapy that hopefully will delay them needing to take insulin for several years.
“The support from the CRF team, in particular Jenny Cooper and colleagues more widely in the hospital, including Dr Neil Bugg, was instrumental in the patients being able to receive Teplizumab therapy.”
Currently, many young people go undiagnosed and risk developing a life-threatening complication called diabetic ketoacidosis that needs urgent hospital treatment.
Identifying diabetes earlier could help avoid this and mean treatments to control problematic blood sugar levels can be given sooner.
Imogen’s mum Amy who has type 1 diabetes, says knowing what's coming, rather than being taken by surprise, has made a massive difference to their confidence and peace of mind.
"Imogen took part in the study to further research and help others, but it has helped her too – being forewarned is being forearmed,” said the mum from Hereford.
"She was always going to develop type 1 diabetes, but through ELSA we've been able to slow down the process and prepare. We know what's coming, but we're not scared."
Imogen is being given ongoing support through Dr Dias’s national early type 1 diabetes clinic to prepare her for what is to come.
Dr Dias is funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research.
For more information about the study go to www.elsadiabetes.nhs.uk
How the diabetes screening test works
The finger-prick blood test checks for autoantibodies - proteins that the immune system makes which can attack the body's own tissues.
In diabetes, these autoantibodies attack the pancreas - the organ which has the job of making insulin to control blood sugar.
Family history can increase your risk of type 1 diabetes and scientists believe some things in the environment, like viruses, play a role in triggering it.
Preliminary findings from ELSA in the 17,283 children, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, external journal and funded by Diabetes UK and Breakthrough T1D, show:
75 children had one autoantibody, signalling increased future risk of type 1 diabetes
160 had two or more autoantibodies but did not yet require insulin therapy, indicating early-stage type 1 diabetes
Seven were found to have undiagnosed Stage 3 type 1 diabetes, all needing to start insulin immediately
Children without autoantibodies are much less likely to develop type 1 diabetes.
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes
The most common symptoms of type 1 diabetes are:
- peeing more than usual, especially at night
- feeling very thirsty and drinking more than usual
- feeling very tired
- losing weight without trying to or looking thinner
- Children may have heavier nappies or they may start wetting the bed because they're peeing more.
If you are worried that your child might have symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes, please seek medical advice from your GP.