Type 1 diabetes is the most common metabolic disease in children and adolescents in Germany and the number of new cases has been rising significantly for several years. The disease mainly occurs when there is an increased risk of developing the disease due to the presence of certain genes. The majority of children who have an increased risk and develop diabetes usually have no relatives with type 1 diabetes. This means that the disease can affect anyone.
The disease develops "silently" over months and years without any recognisable signs of illness. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system, which primarily fights off pathogenic germs, is directed against the body's own structures - this is why it is referred to as an autoimmune disease. In the case of type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas and destroys them. Insulin is a vital hormone that transports sugar taken in with food from the blood into the cells. If the body can only produce little or no insulin itself, the sugar accumulates in the blood and symptoms occur: frequent urination, severe thirst and weight loss. If type 1 diabetes is recognised too late, it can lead to life-threatening metabolic imbalances. People with type 1 diabetes must therefore inject insulin for the rest of their lives to prevent damage.
Freder1k checks the risk of type 1 diabetes
In the Freder1k-study tests whether the child has an increased risk of type 1 diabetes. The test can be carried out together with the newborn screening or separately in the first 7 days after birth. If the newborn is found to have an increased genetic risk of type 1 diabetes, the parents will be informed in detail about the result and its significance in a personal discussion.
Can the development of type 1 diabetes be prevented?
To date, there is no cure for this metabolic disease. Research findings in recent years have shown that there is a time window in infancy and early childhood when the autoimmune disease occurs most frequently in children with an increased genetic risk. Preventive measures at this age could therefore possibly prevent the development of the disease. With the prevention study SINT1A (Supplementation with B. INfantis for Mitigation of Type 1 Diabetes Autoimmunity) aims to find out whether the administration of the probiotic B. infantis can prevent the development of type 1 diabetes. To participate in the SINT1A-In order to participate in the study, the child must have a ten per cent risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Whether it belongs to this risk group is clarified by the aforementioned Freder1k study.
In the study, the probiotic is administered by mouth (orally). This should have a positive influence on the intestinal flora and thus have a regulating effect on the immune system. In the study, we want to investigate whether this can reduce faulty and pathogenic immune reactions such as in type 1 diabetes, but also in other diseases such as coeliac disease, and thus prevent the disease.
How does the SINT1A study work?
The SINT1A study for the prevention of type 1 diabetes includes children up to the age of six weeks. The first study visit takes place before the child is six weeks old. At this time, parents are given a powder for their child for the first time, which contains either the probiotic or a placebo (inactive substance). Half of all participating children receive the probiotic, the other half a placebo. The study participants and the study staff are "blinded", i.e. they do not know who will receive the probiotic or the placebo. The probiotic is given according to a predetermined randomisation principle. The comparison with the placebo is necessary in order to be able to assess the effect of the probiotic. The amount of powder for one day is contained in a sachet and should be dissolved in a little liquid (preferably breast milk) and administered into the mouth via a feeding syringe.
Further visits take place at six and twelve months of age. The intake of the powder ends at the age of twelve months. After that, physical examinations and blood tests are carried out once a year by our doctors at the study centre. These follow-up examinations take place until the child is six and a half years old at the latest (depending on when the child was enrolled in the study). The respective blood samples are used, among other things, to test for islet autoantibodies, which indicate whether an early stage of type 1 diabetes is already present, as well as to examine the blood glucose. This can help us to recognise an early stage of type 1 diabetes at an early stage, monitor it closely and control the blood sugar. If the child does develop type 1 diabetes, those responsible for the study will be able to detect the onset of the disease before symptoms appear.
Briefly summarised
A child can be included in the SINT1A study if ...
- ... it is up to six weeks old
- ... he or she has been diagnosed with an increased risk of type 1 diabetes
The following link will take you to the GPPAD page where you can find out more about participating in the studies: https://www.gppad.org/de/weiterfuehrende-informationen/
One Response
My daughter has type 1 diabetes, which we recognised early on. It's a shame to know that there is no cure for this disease yet. That's why I'm going to a diabetes training course to find out more.