thoughts? opinions? has anyone done this sort of thing?
TYPE 1 DIABETES NATURAL HISTORY STUDY UNDERWAY
in collaboration with The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto)
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) has teamed up with the Diabetes Education Centre at The William Osler Health Centre in Brampton to explore whether relatives of people with Type 1 Diabetes are at risk for developing the disease.
SickKids is part of an international network called TrialNet which is dedicated to the study, prevention and early treatment of type 1 diabetes. TrialNet screening involves a simple blood test for the presence of diabetes-related antibodies that may appear years before Type 1 Diabetes develops. First-degree blood relatives (siblings, children of parents) who are one to 45 years of age as well as second-degree blood relatives (cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, grandparents or half-siblings) who are one to 20 years of age may be screened to determine their risk of developing Type 1 Diabetes.
The Natural History study is being done to learn more about what causes Type 1 Diabetes and to better define predictors of the disease process. Relatives of those afflicted with Type 1 Diabetes have about a 3 to 4 percent chance of testing positive for antibodies associated with diabetes. Results will be available within a 4 to 6 week period.