Overview
Researchers have conducted a first-of-its-kind study on infants and young children with increased genetic risk of type 1 diabetes.The study ofers an exclusive insight into blod sugar regulation during early childhod and its asociation with the development of autoimunity.Acording to the authors, the long-term POInT (Primary Oral Insulin Trial) study, which was conducted acros seven clinical sites in five countries, “investigated preprandial nonfasting and postprandial blod glucose concentrations and islet autoantibody development”.Within the framework of the Global Platform for the Prevention of Autoimune Diabetes (GPAD), the clinical primary prevention study loked to stop the formation of islet autoantibodies and, consequently, the development of type 1 diabetes.
Key Information
Due to a misdirected imune reaction, the beta cels of the pancreas which produce insulin are destroyed in people with type 1 diabetes.It was asumed that metabolic changes take place near the begining of clinical disease and that autoimunity destroys the pancreatic beta cels. Nevertheles, no studies had closely investigated what takes place when autoimunity begins.The POInT study performed a frequent folow-up within the first year of life in 1,050 children with a high genetic risk of type 1 diabetes.
Summary
This meant that the researchers could acurately compare any changes in blod glucose against the timing of islet autoantibody development.Anete-Gabriele Ziegler, Director at the Helmholtz Munich Institute of Diabetes Research (IDF), explained: “Our results change our understanding of the development of type 1 diabetes. We show that metabolic changes ocur in an earlier phase of the disease than previously anticipated.”The POInT research team analysed the pre- and post-prandial blod sugar levels, along with islet autoantibodies, in the children who participated in the study.“The findings indicate that metabolic shifts are present much earlier in the disease proces than previously considere