Laura Nally, MD: Five Things to Know During Diabetes Awareness Month

When meeting families who are newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, I understand that this experience can bring a range of emotions and concerns. I strive to assure them that diabetes will not stand in the way of leading a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life. Children, in particular, may worry that their condition will prevent them from enjoying activities like playing sports or eating their favorite foods. I want to convey that diabetes, while it requires additional planning and effort, will not limit their ability to pursue their passions and enjoy the things they love.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Unfortunately, there is currently no definitive method to prevent type 1 diabetes. This type of diabetes is influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors that are not yet fully understood.

Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which the body becomes less responsive to insulin and may be unable to produce enough insulin to maintain stable glucose levels. There are a combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioral risk factors, including excess weight, limited physical activity, and genetic factors. Social and environmental factors also play an important role.

There is promising research and there are emerging treatments aimed at delaying the progression of type 1 diabetes in individuals who are at high risk. One such treatment is Tzield (teplizumab), an immunotherapy that has been shown in clinical trials to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes. Tzield works by modifying the immune system’s response, preserving the function of the insulin-producing beta cells for longer, and delaying the onset of type 1 diabetes.

A lot of people think that you can’t eat candy or have sugar with type 1 diabetes. While we recommend that children and adults with type 1 diabetes eat a well-balanced diet, we don’t recommend that they avoid foods that they enjoy that have high carbohydrates. We recognize the importance of young people being able to enjoy eating sweets during holidays and celebrations.

Individuals who can enroll in TrialNet include those with a family history of type 1 diabetes, such as siblings, children, parents, grandchildren, and cousins of people with the condition. Specifically, they accept relatives aged 2 to 45 years for close relatives (siblings, children, parents) and 2.5 to 20 years for extended relatives (cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, grandparents) of individuals with type 1 diabetes. Anyone who is under 18 years old and tests negative for the autoantibodies is eligible to retest every 2 years before they turn 18.

Anyone who is 2-45 years old and has no family history of T1D can be tested through TrialNet if they are found to have autoantibodies.

Many people do not realize that their primary care provider can also provide screening for type 1 diabetes. For example, someone who has a personal or family history of autoimmune disease can ask their primary care doctor to screen for type 1 diabetes autoantibodies.