Breakthrough in fight to stop type 1 diabetes in high risk babies

Experts believe they may have identified a way to stop high risk babies from developing type 1 diabetes, by providing them with powdered insulin to offer lifetime protection to train their immune system.

The research will involve pregnant women under the care of a selection of maternity clinics being asked to take part in a trial, whereby they will be asked to give their babies insulin powder each day from six months until three years of age.

Fifty per cent of participants will be given the insulin and the remaining participants will be given a placebo powder.

Around one in every 100 babies inherit genes that means they have an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes and experts say that a routine heel prick could detect these genes.

There is currently no way to prevent type 1 diabetes.

Dr Matthew Snape, the trial’s chief investigator, said “Preventing children and their families from having to live with diabetes and its threat of complications such as blindness, kidney or heart disease would be fantastic.”

Diabetes UK’s director of research Dr Elizabeth Robertson, said “This is a huge endeavour, so we would encourage women living in the South East who think they might be eligible to find out more – research like this can’t happen without the incredible people who take part.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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