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Diabetes screening for families

I guess the question to answer that is what would you do if you knew that one or both your sons had autoantibodies that could indicate type 1?
 
Im not type 1 but would agree with Tim. With all genetic testing around disease risk I also wonder what impact it would have on a child for them or their parwnt to know they may get a particular condition
 
badcat said:
Im not type 1 but would agree with Tim. With all genetic testing around disease risk I also wonder what impact it would have on a child for them or their parwnt to know they may get a particular condition
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Sorry, pedant here again! The test only shows if the child is "at risk". You still don't know if they will definitely get diabetes.
I agree with you and @tim2000s - you have to ask yourself what you would do with this information.
 
Well, one of the things a trialnet result indicative of a high risk of developing type 1 results in is a carefull follow up so that should type 1 develop it is diagnosed when the subject is well, rather than the story of most type 1 diagnoses - ie in life threatening dka.

The other is it gives trialnet lots of data for research, research that could benefit the person tested if they get to be involved in clinical trials of medication aimed at stopping type 1 developing (I'm not aware of any such medication, but should they become available, trialnet is where they will start) or prolonging beta cell life in very newly diagnosed type 1s.
 
helensaramay said:
Sorry, pedant here again! The test only shows if the child is "at risk". You still don't know if they will definitely get diabetes.
I agree with you and @tim2000s - you have to ask yourself what you would do with this information.
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Not sure what you're saying you're being pedantic about but Ill be equally pedantic
How is a genetic disease risk screen showing "a child may develop....." any different from one that shows " a child is at risk ......" ( presuming of course you mean at risk of developng T1 rather than at general unspecified risk in an unpredictable and dangerous world!!)
 
Hi @lou258 As a parent I too have contemplated this test, however i've decided that even if there is a risk of passing on genetic t1 then I wouldn't actually want to know as otherwise i'd be living a life based on a possibility and that would spoil the fun of being a parent and enjoying every moment without this underlying worry.
 
Thanks guys for all the replies. TBH I’m not sure what I would do with the info other than as was mentioned keeping an extra eagle eye out ;) ultimately I wouldn’t want them to end up in icu like I did, but appreciate that’s unlikely as hopefully we are all a lot more aware of the symptoms now than we were 3 months ago!
 
I think if you desire genetic screening blood tests that's fine as long as you pay for them yourself. My daughter had an early pregnancy screening test for trisomy and that disclosed the baby's sex and it cost them a couple hundred bucks. Insurance wouldn't pay for it.
 
mahola said:
After both myself and my youngest daughter were diagnosed within 5 days of eachother, my eldest daughter was offered the chance to be tested to see if she had antibodies. She decided not to. She told me that even if the antibodies were there, there's nothing she could do to prevent them developing into type 1. And if they did, she'd have me and her sister for company. :)

My youngest daughter didn't become poorly before diagnosis. I tested her BG (And everyone else's) because I had a new toy (glucose monitor) Her BG was high so off to A&E she went.

I now test eldest child's BG just out of curiosity. Her levels are always perfect, even after a high carb meal :) Phew!

I think when you're type 1 yourself, you're more aware of the signs and symptoms anyway so are always on the lookout for them. I know I certainly am. Having 1 child with type 1 is hard enough, 2 would probably tip me over the edge :wideyed:
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How high were your daughter's blood sugars if you do not mind me asking? Must have been a shock
My daughter shows higher than expected levels after high carb foods - mid 7s, although lower at 2 hours. Does your other daughter not go this high?

I would like antibody testing, which I'm convinced would be positive, but I think my daughter is too young. Is the above study age 3 like the trialnet study is?
 
Ah yes. 3 and up.

Interestingly my dad wouldn't count as although diagnosed before 40 he didn't take insulin for five years. I assume LADA? So are they not counting LADA as type 1 diabetes?
 
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