Who we are
We are a group of doctors for children and adults with diabetes, psychologists, scientists and researchers working to improve care for those at risk of type 1 diabetes.
What is type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a life-long condition where the immune system destroys part of the body called the pancreas which makes insulin. The body needs insulin to control blood sugar levels. Treatment involves replacing the body’s insulin over a lifetime using injections or an insulin pump.
Risk factors
The risk of developing T1D increases when people have markers in their blood called T1D (or islet) autoantibodies.
- Children with two or more T1D autoantibodies have an 80–90% chance of developing T1D within 15 years, and nearly all will develop T1D in their lifetime.
- Children with only one of these markers have a lower risk (15% within 15 years).
- In adults, less is understood about the natural history of being antibody positive, and we hope this study will help us understand more.
What the UKIAb Registry does
The UKIAb Registry has developed a registry of children and adults with T1D antibodies to:
- Keep in contact with people with T1D autoantibodies - we will tell you about any treatments available on the NHS that could delay or prevent T1D, or opportunities to take part in research.
- Learn from you what it is like to be at risk of T1D to help develop better resources to support people.
- Collect data on if and when T1D develops.
- Understand whether people with T1D antibodies use NHS services more than others; for example, because of being anxious about developing T1D.