We will be here to help and support you.
The earlier type 1 diabetes is detected, the sooner it can be managed.
Why is screening for type 1 diabetes important?
Type 1 diabetes can be difficult to identify in children as the symptoms are often vague and so are easily missed or confused with other common childhood health conditions or developmental stages. In Australia, 1 in every 3 kids with type 1 diabetes are not diagnosed until they are very sick and need emergency medical care.
It used to be thought that type 1 diabetes came on out of blue, with little to no warning. However, we now know that type 1 diabetes can be developing silently for months or years before children start showing any signs.
This is why screening is so important. It can help to identify type 1 diabetes in children early, before they become very sick. An early diagnosis can also help avoid serious health problems and improve long-term health.
Four Australian children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes every day.
Who is screening for?
Screening for type 1 diabetes is being offered to eligible children attending participating GP clinics for a limited time.
Most children with type 1 diabetes do not have any relatives with the condition, so it’s important to offer screening to eligible children, regardless of their family history.
To be eligible, children must be aged 6 weeks to 6 months old, attending an immunisation and/or routine health check appointment at a participating GP clinic.
What does screening involve?
Screening is free, simple, quick and safe.
The screening test involves collecting a few drops of blood from a small prick on your child’s heel. This can be done during your child’s routine immunisation and/or health and development check appointment.
You will receive your child’s test result online, along with information explaining what the result means and what to do next. Your child’s result will be available just before their first birthday.
Most children will have a very low chance of developing type 1 diabetes. Children with a normal screening test result will not need to do anything further.
A small number (around 1 in 10 children) will have an increased chance of developing type 1 diabetes in childhood, based on their genetic profile. This means they have a risk factor for developing the condition but does not mean they already have, or definitely will develop, type 1 diabetes in the future. Children with an increased chance of developing type 1 diabetes will be offered free follow-up testing to check if they start developing the condition, even before they feel any symptoms. We will be here to help and support you. The earlier type 1 diabetes is detected, the sooner it can be managed.
How can I have my child screened?
Screening is being offered in participating GP clinics. You may be directly approached by your GP or nurse to discuss having your child screened, or you may have seen advertisements in the clinic and wish to discuss participation.
If you decide to have your child screened, your GP or nurse will ask you to complete a consent form and create an account for you on the secure online screening portal. This online account is so we know your child is being screened and can send you their test results.
More information
Click here to find out more
About type 1 diabetes
You can also read more in our
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources
Type 1 Diabetes National Screening Pilot Read More >
You can also read more about type 1 diabetes here:
- JDRF Australia, Living with Type 1 Diabetes Read More >
- Diabetes Australia, About Type 1 Diabetes Read More >
- As1diabetes, Information for kids, teens, parents, carers and schools Read More >
- Raising Children, Type 1 Diabetes Read More >
The Type 1 Diabetes National Screening Pilot aims to find the best way to offer screening for type 1 diabetes to children in Australia.
This national 'not for profit' research pilot is led by the University of Sydney, with collaborating universities and hospitals around Australia. It is funded by JDRF, a research foundation for type 1 diabetes.
