Riley Hospital is one of 18 clinical centers in the United States and seven other countries seeking more information on how type 1 diabetes develops in at-risk individuals. The centers are part of a cooperative study, Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet, which is currently screening relatives of people with the disease. These people have a 10- to 15- times greater risk for developing type 1 diabetes than people with no family history of the illness.
Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, occurs in both children and adults. An autoimmune disorder, type 1 diabetes occurs when the body attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Treatment for this disease consists of insulin, a hormone needed to turn food into energy, which is given by multiple daily insulin injections.
This phase of the TrialNet research is known as the Natural History Study. To be eligible to participate, individuals must be:
- 1 to 45 years of age and have a (first generation) brother, sister, child or parent with type 1 diabetes or
- 1 to 20 years of age and have a (second generation) cousin, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, half-sibling or grandparent with type 1 diabetes.
Study results will be shared with participants. Persons found at high risk may be eligible for additional studies to try to prevent further development of the disease.
For additional information on the Natural History Study, see www.DiabetesTrialNet.org. To participate in the Natural History study at Riley Hospital for Children, you can email pedsdiab@iupui.edu, or call 317-948-8879. The toll free number is 866-230-8486.