Simple finger-prick test could spot type 1 diabetes in children years earlier

Type 1 diabetes in children is often diagnosed in a rush, when a child becomes suddenly very unwell and needs urgent hospital treatment. Now, a major UK study suggests that could change, thanks to a simple finger-prick blood test that spots the condition years before symptoms appear.

Researchers behind the ELSA study say nationwide screening could give families early warning, reduce frightening emergency diagnoses, and even open the door to new treatments that delay the need for insulin.

The findings are already shaping plans for NHS early-stage diabetes clinics for children, and experts believe this could mark a turning point in how type 1 diabetes is detected and managed.

Why early diagnosis matters for families

Around a quarter of children with type 1 diabetes in the UK are diagnosed only once they reach a medical emergency, often with a life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. This can mean intensive hospital treatment, and a frightening experience for both children and parents.

Early diagnosis changes that picture. By identifying children before symptoms begin, families can be supported, educated and monitored closely, reducing the risk of emergency hospital admissions.

Dr Elizabeth Robertson, Director of Research and Clinical at Diabetes UK, explains why this matters so much for parents.

For too many families, a child’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis still comes as a frightening emergency. But that doesn’t have to be the case.

How the finger-prick test works

The test used in the ELSA study involves a small finger-prick blood sample, similar to the kind already familiar to many parents.

The sample is checked for autoantibodies, proteins made by the immune system that can attack the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. These autoantibodies can appear years before a child develops symptoms of type 1 diabetes.

Children with no autoantibodies are very unlikely to develop the condition. Those with one autoantibody have an increased risk, while having two or more autoantibodies means the immune system has already started attacking the pancreas, a stage known as early type 1 diabetes.

What the ELSA study found

The first phase of the ELSA study screened more than 17,000 children aged three to 13 across the UK. The results, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, showed:

• 75 children had one autoantibody, signalling increased future risk
• 160 children had two or more autoantibodies but did not yet need insulin
• 7 children had undiagnosed type 1 diabetes and needed to start insulin immediately

Researchers say these findings prove that large-scale screening is both feasible and acceptable to families.

Professor Parth Narendran, lead researcher from the University of Birmingham, said the study could prevent children “crash landing” into a diagnosis and described the impact as “a massive step change” in care.

A family’s experience of knowing what’s coming

For some families, early screening has already made a life-changing difference. Imogen, now 12, from the West Midlands, was found to be in the early stages of type 1 diabetes through the ELSA study.

Her mum Amy, who was herself diagnosed at 13 after becoming seriously ill, says early knowledge has brought reassurance rather than fear.

She said: “Knowing what’s coming – rather than being taken by surprise – has made an enormous difference to our confidence and peace of mind.”

Knowing what’s coming – rather than being taken by surprise – has made an enormous difference to our confidence and peace of mind.

Because Imogen was identified early, she has been able to access close monitoring and support, and is one of the first children in the UK to receive a new immunotherapy drug designed to delay the onset of diabetes.

New treatments that could delay insulin

One of the most hopeful developments linked to early screening is a drug called teplizumab. This immunotherapy works by calming the immune system and slowing its attack on the pancreas.

In clinical trials, teplizumab has been shown to delay the need for insulin by around three years on average in people with early-stage type 1 diabetes. It was licensed for use in the UK in 2025 and is currently being assessed to determine whether it should be offered through the NHS.

Rachel Connor from Breakthrough T1D said the impact of this approach could be profound.

Instead of a devastating emergency, we can offer time, choices, and hope.

What happens next for screening in the UK

The next phase of the research, ELSA 2, is now under way and will expand screening to children aged two to 17. The test can be done at home, in schools or at GP surgeries, and will be supported by new NHS early-stage type 1 diabetes clinics offering medical and psychological support.

Whether screening is rolled out nationwide will ultimately depend on decisions by UK ministers, advised by the National Screening Committee and ongoing research.

For parents, the message from experts is clear. Early screening will not prevent type 1 diabetes, but it could transform how families experience diagnosis, turning a sudden crisis into a managed and supported journey.

Read more:

• UK to consult on social media ban for under-16s, what it could mean for families
• Taking paracetamol in pregnancy does NOT raise autism or ADHD risk, major study finds
• Mattel launches its first autistic Barbie to boost representation in play