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Real-life stories from people living with T1D

The progression of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is gradual, often detectable months or even years before symptoms arise.1–3 Through proactive screening, the condition can be identified well in advance.3 Meet our ambassadors living with T1D and discover the risk factors to look out for when considering who to screen.

Meet Aïcha

Aïcha, a 53-year-old mother of three teenagers, was diagnosed with T1D in her late 40s. The condition was not unfamiliar to her, as her sister had been diagnosed with it many years earlier at age 12. Aïcha's journey with T1D continued with her twin boys also having the condition, while her daughter, thankfully, screened negative, offering some much-needed relief. 

It’s important to recognise that people, like Aïcha, who have a first-degree relative with T1D, have up to 15x higher risk of developing the condition compared to the general population.4 Proactively screening for T1D in those with a known family history of the condition may allow detection before symptoms arise.*5–7 

Meet Korey

A licensed clinical psychologist and part of the diabetes care team at Stanford University, Korey lives with T1D, alongside coeliac disease and an autoimmune thyroid condition. His diagnoses have resulted in dietary restrictions that can make social gatherings tricky. Familiar with the lifestyle adaptations needed for life with T1D, Korey is a keen advocate for screening and has already had his eldest tested for the condition.

People like Korey demonstrate the high degree of co-occurrence between T1D and other autoimmune conditions. Of those living with T1D, up to 9% also have coeliac disease, and up to 30% also have autoimmune thyroid conditions.8,9 Understanding the genetic link between certain autoimmune conditions can help you identify which patients to screen as a priority.

Meet Alizée 

Meet Alizée, a 30-year-old woman living with T1D. With no family history of the condition and no other risk factors, her diagnosis at 19 years old came unexpectedly.

Although people with a family history of T1D are at a significantly higher risk of developing the condition, the majority (~90%) of new diagnoses occur in people like Alizée, who have no family history of the condition.†4,10 So, while some risk factors may position some individuals as higher priority screening candidates, it’s important to understand that everyone could have the opportunity for earlier identification of T1D through universal screening once such programs become available. 

Meet Veerle

Veerle is 34 years old and was diagnosed with T1D after an initial misdiagnosis of type 2 diabetes. She was the first in her family to be diagnosed with T1D but has distant cousins who have since been diagnosed too.

In a retrospective US study, ~40% of adults with T1D were initially misdiagnosed with another condition, with 77% of these cases being misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetes.‡11 Misdiagnosis can delay proper insulin replacement therapy, resulting in prolonged hyperglycaemia and increasing the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).11 This underpins the importance of considering T1D in certain individuals suspected as presenting with type 2 diabetes.

Understanding the importance of proactive screening can transform the lives of those with T1D, protecting more people from the potential dangers of a later diagnosis.5–7,12,13

With timely diagnosis, it is estimated that an additional ~670,000 lives could be saved by 2040.14,15

While people from all backgrounds can develop T1D, regardless of age or family history,10,16 being vigilant about the risk factors can help you identify which patients should be prioritised for screening.1,8,9

 

GET 1 STEP AHEAD OF T1D THROUGH SCREENING. 
 

DKA, diabetic ketoacidosis; T1D, type 1 diabetes 
 

*The T1D index is a data simulation tool designed to measure and map the human and public health impact of T1D.14,15

†In a population-based observational study of 57,371 young individuals with T1D across Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg (using data from the Diabetes Prospective Follow-up Registry between 1995 and 2018), 53,606 (93.4%) had no family history of T1D.10

‡In a retrospective online survey of patients with T1D and caregivers of patients with T1D in the US, a diagnosis of T1D was missed in 38.6% of those diagnosed at ≥18 years of age. Of those patients, 76.8% were initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.11 

  1. DiMeglio LA, Evans-Molina C and Oram RA. Lancet. 2018;391(10138):2449-2462. 
  2. Insel RA, Dunne JL, Atkinson MA, et al. Diabetes Care. 2015;38(10):1964-1974.
  3. Ospelt E, Hardison H, Rioles N, et al. Clin Diabetes. 2024;42(1):17-26.
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  10. Karges B, Prinz N, Placzek K, et al. Diabetes Care. 2021;44(5):1116-1124.
  11. Muñoz C, Floreen A, Garey C, et al. Clin Diabetes. 2019;37(3):276-281. 
  12. Wolfsdorf JI, Glaser N, Agus M, et al. Pediatr Diabetes. 2018;19 Suppl 27:155-177.
  13. Besser REJ, Ng SM, Gregory JW, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2022;107(9):790-795.
  14. Type 1 Diabetes Index. T1D Index Factsheet: GLOBAL. Accessed August 5, 2024. https://t1dindex.shinyapps.io/dashboard/
  15. Type 1 Diabetes Index. A campaign guide to launch the T1D Index. Accessed August 5, 2024. https://www.t1dindex.org/wpcontent/uploads/2022/09/Campaign-Guide.pptx-2.pdf
  16. Gregory GA, Robinson TIG, Linklater SE, et al. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2022;10(10):741-760.
MAT-AU-2502547 - 1.0 - 04/2026