Type 1 Diabetes Autoantibody Screening: A Roadmap for Pediatric Policy Implementation

Type 1 diabetes, or T1D, once commonly known as juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The disease affects people of all ages and causes numerous negative and lifelong health consequences. Currently, there is no means of preventing or curing T1D, but screening for T1D autoantibodies, especially in the pediatric years, can play an important role in diagnosing the disease early.

Implementing preventive care, especially in pediatrics, can be a challenge. In this report, generously funded by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the Milken Institute Center for Strategic Philanthropy has laid out an actionable framework, complete with strategies and milestones, for implementing screening for T1D autoantibodies in the general population.

This roadmap was developed with substantial input from a variety of stakeholder groups across the T1D research, clinical, and nonprofit community, as well as decision makers in preventive health policy. There are four goals and two supporting goals with a total of 16 action items that will aid the entire T1D community as it works toward the objective of general population autoantibody screening.