Turning type 1 into type none
Australian researchers lead global campaign to prevent type 1 diabetes.
Professor John Wentworth is one of the lead doctors for Type1Screen, a national program offering antibody testing to relatives of people with type 1 diabetes, to determine if they are at risk of developing type 1.
He is calling on the diabetes community to spread the word and encourage their relatives to get screened, to help researchers find a way to prevent type 1.
“For people who have a relative with type 1, the risk is 10 to 15 times higher than it is for the general population,” Professor Wentworth explains.
“Type 1 families understand the impact of diabetes, so people often want to screen their children to keep them safe from potential ketoacidosis and critical illness.
“Some people don’t want to live with the information that their kids are going to get diabetes. Previously, there was nothing you could do… but that has now changed.”
The path to prevention
While he can’t reveal all the details yet, Professor Wentworth hints at upcoming prevention trials led by researchers at The Royal Melbourne Hospital and St Vincent's Institute.
By early 2026, he expects there will be two compelling type 1 diabetes prevention trials taking place.
“These will be worldwide trials, and Victoria is taking a leading role. What's also exciting is that one of these trials is the direct result of Melbourne-based research,” he says.
“If successful, it will change the paradigm… it will get to the clinic very quickly and directly benefit people recently diagnosed with type 1.”
Community support will be vital, as only 1 in every 100 people screened will be suitable for the trials.
“We need to screen as many people as we can across Australia to find 20 – 50 eligible participants. To find a cure for type 1, we need the community to get involved.”
“We need your help – please encourage your relatives to get screened. This is a call to parents and grandparents, round up the kids and have a screening day.”
The benefits of early diagnosis
“We get a lot of emails from participants saying, thank you so much for finding this before my child got critically ill. You kept her out of hospital, or we were prepared,” Professor Wentworth says.
“Getting the diagnosis out of the blue is shocking, whereas diagnosis through screening gives you time to process it and get prepared.”
Being a Type1Screen participant gives you access to support and information from a team of diabetes experts. For eligible people, there is the option to participate in clinical trials of new treatments to preserve insulin making cells (also known as immunotherapy).
“Again, this is a call to arms – if you know someone newly diagnosed, they should hear about these trials,” Professor Wentworth says.
“A lot of the time people find us too late. Our research will have long-term benefits, but we are also trying to help people here and now.”
Get Involved
People eligible for Type1Screen:
- Aged over 2 years, AND
- Live in Australia, AND
- Have a relative diagnosed with type 1 diabetes OR
- Have previously had a positive antibody test
Clinical trials are the only way to find evidence to bring new immunotherapy treatments to type 1 diabetes care.
Learn more about ongoing clinical trials at the ATIC website.
Type1Screen is funded by Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), with support from Diabetes Victoria, the Diabetes Australia Research Program, The Type 1 Foundation, The Lions Australia Diabetes Foundation, the Medical Research Future Fund, the Eccles family, Eirene Lucas Foundation, Jack Newton Foundation and the Colin and Janice Smith Bequest.
