Type 1 Diabetes Screening
Most families find out at diagnosis — yours doesn't have to. Autoantibody screening gives you a head start before symptoms ever appear. We now offer specialized screening to detect Type 1 Diabetes autoantibodies years before symptoms appear.
Does any of this sound familiar?
You want to be proactive about your child's health, especially when there's a family history.
"My husband has Type 1 Diabetes and I worry constantly about our children developing it."
"We have a strong family history of autoimmune diseases and want to be proactive."
"I've read about diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and want to make sure we catch any signs early."
"Our pediatrician doesn't typically run these tests unless there are symptoms, but I want to know now."
"I know there are new interventions to delay Type 1 Diabetes, but I don't know how to get my child screened."
"We just want peace of mind knowing we are doing everything we can to monitor our child's health."
Who We Help
We help families take a proactive approach to Type 1 Diabetes risk.
First-Degree Relatives
You know the risks because you live with them. If a parent or sibling has Type 1 Diabetes, the risk for your child is significantly higher. We provide the specific autoantibody testing needed to monitor their status.
- Screening as young as 1 year old
- Identify risk before symptoms appear
- Prevent dangerous DKA onset
Autoimmune History & Peace of Mind
Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition. If your family has a history of other autoimmune conditions (like celiac or thyroid disease), or if you simply want to be proactive about screening, we are here to help.
- Full medical and family history intake
- Targeted lab testing orders
- Clear follow-up plan based on results
The Silent Timeline of T1D
Type 1 Diabetes doesn't start the day your child gets really thirsty or tired. It starts silently, often years earlier, when the immune system mistakenly begins attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. By the time a child is officially diagnosed, a significant portion of those cells are already gone.
Stage 1: The Silent Start
What's happening: The immune system has created two or more "autoantibodies" — markers showing the attack has begun.
What you notice: Nothing. Your child feels completely fine, and their blood sugar is totally normal.
The stakes: Without screening, you'd have no idea. Children in this stage have a 44% chance of progressing to full T1D within 5 years, and a near 100% lifetime risk.
Stage 2: The Shift
What's happening: The autoantibodies are still there, but now the pancreas is struggling. Blood sugar is starting to shift just enough to detect on a test.
What you notice: Still nothing. Your child feels normal, and there are usually no outward signs, although some children will begin to have fatigue, behavioral, or mood symptoms as they experience blood sugar spikes and dips.
The stakes: This is the last window before symptoms hit. At this stage, 60% of children will progress to full clinical T1D within 2 years. Because children progress through these stages faster than adults, the window to act is shorter than most parents realize.
Stage 3: Symptoms Appear
What's happening: Significant cell loss has occurred. The body can no longer make enough insulin to function.
What you notice: This is where most families find out. You'll see excessive thirst, frequent bathroom trips, weight loss, and deep fatigue.
The stakes: Too often, the first sign is a life-threatening emergency called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Why Early Screening Matters
Finding out in Stage 1 or 2 changes everything. Early screening lets us monitor blood sugar safely, plan ahead, and completely avoid a terrifying emergency room DKA diagnosis. Even more importantly, catching it early means we can evaluate your child for new FDA-approved therapies, which can actually delay the onset of Stage 3 by two years or more.
You can't change your child's genetics, but you can change how their story unfolds.
What's Included in the Screening Visit
Comprehensive Intake
Review of family history and autoimmune risks.
Targeted Lab Orders
Specific autoantibody tests to detect early T1D markers.
Follow-Up Plan
A clear roadmap based on your child's lab results.
How It Works
A simple, proactive process to get you answers.
Fill Out the Form
Takes 2 minutes. Tell us about your family history. Our team will reach out quickly to book your spot.
Your Screening Visit
A focused, one-time virtual visit where we do a full intake, discuss the screening process, and order the appropriate autoantibody lab tests. We meet virtually and discuss both the diabetes antibody screening along with any other lab tests we should order (celiac, thyroid, anemia, etc.).
Lab Testing
We send your lab order to a medical lab near your home. The lab will bill your insurance for the tests, just like any other lab work. All labs are trained to draw blood from children of all ages. Fasting is not required for diabetes screening lab tests so you can go at your convenience.
Results & Action Plan
Once labs return, we formulate a plan. If negative, peace of mind. If positive, we build a monitoring strategy to prevent DKA and discuss next steps.
Questions parents ask us
Ready to be proactive?
Fill out the form below. Our team will reach out quickly to book your screening visit. No commitment required.
We respond quickly. No commitment required until you're ready.