Negative

The results from E's Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet autoantibody screening came in......NEGATIVE! Woo Hoo!!

This result means that at this time his body is free of the autoantibodies that cause T1D. Although he won't be screened for another year, this doesn't ensure that between now and then he won't develop the autoantibodies and progress into being diabetic. It just simply means that at this time he is low risk, and we can sleep a little easier knowing that he is safe for now.

I have found that there isn't much knowledge about what this screening is and why you would choose to do it. Personally for us it is the prevention trials that go along with the screening. If E were to have a positive result and autoantibodies were present, there are prevention trials that we could put him in to potentially stop or prolong the progression of the autoantibodies that cause Type 1 Diabetes. For us as parents knowing that this screening was available and choosing not to participate, if god forbid the day came and E was diagnosed with T1D and I knew there was a way we could have maybe, possibly prevented it and we didn't explore that option....I would NEVER forgive myself! I of course don't like the idea that he has to have a blood draw (although he wasn't even phased by it this year) but what is one little poke, once a year?

This test is not just limited to siblings, both Anthony and myself have been screened as well! Here are the qualifications:
Anyone between the ages of 1 and 45 years with a sibling, child or parent with T1D
and/or
Anyone between the ages of 1 and 20 with a sibling, child, parent, cousin, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, grandparent, or half-sibling with T1D.
Close blood relatives of people with T1D are at 10 to 15 times greater risk for developing the disease than people with no family history!!!

If you haven't heard of TrialNet and you want more information about getting a FREE screening for you or a loved one you can go to this link http://www.pathway2prevention.org/

Happy Thursday :)