The Next Frontier: Preventing Type 1 Diabetes Before It Starts

For decades, Type 1 diabetes (T1D) was perceived as a condition that appeared suddenly, transforming a person's life overnight. However, recent research is uncovering a different reality. Scientists have found that T1D develops gradually, often over several years, as the body's immune system begins to attack the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This important discovery has paved the way for an extraordinary possibility: the potential for prevention.

At AdventHealth’s Translational Research Institute (TRI) and centers across the country, researchers, scientists, and clinicians are studying ways to identify T1D before symptoms even appear. Through simple blood tests that look for autoantibodies, markers that show the immune system is active against insulin-producing cells, researchers can now detect the earliest signs of the disease, sometimes years before diagnosis.

This early detection means intervention is finally possible. Ongoing studies are exploring new treatments that could protect the pancreas, slow the immune attack, or even stop it entirely. It’s a radical shift moving from waiting to treat diabetes after it develops to finding ways to keep it from starting at all.

For families, that message brings hope. For those who already live with T1D, it means a future where children and grandchildren might never have to face it. For those at risk, it means having time to prepare, monitor, and participate in prevention studies that could make a lasting difference.

What You Can Do This Diabetes Awareness Month

1. Learn your risk.

If someone in your family has T1D, you can get screened for diabetes-related autoantibodies. These tests can reveal your risk level long before symptoms begin.

2. Pay attention to symptoms.

Excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, or unexpected weight loss can all be early signs of diabetes. If you or your child experiences these, see a healthcare provider right away.

3. Support research.

Clinical studies rely on volunteers, both those with and without diabetes, to advance prevention and treatment. Participating or donating helps fuel discoveries that bring us closer to a world without T1D.

4. Share what you learn.

Awareness starts with conversation. Sharing accurate information about prevention and early testing could help someone you know detect diabetes before it becomes dangerous.

Prevention is no longer a far-off dream. Scientists are learning how to recognize T1D before it takes hold, and families are stepping up to be part of that change. Every test, every trial, every conversation brings us closer to a future where T1D may never have a chance to begin.