The disease often begins long before anyone notices. A European research project therefore aims to detect type 1 diabetes in children at an earlier stage — using a simple blood test. So far, 100,000 children and adolescents have already been screened, more than 7,500 of them in Saxony.
The project is called EDENT1FI and has been running since 2023. It brings together researchers from 27 partner organizations in 13 European countries. In Dresden, scientists at the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) at TU Dresden and at Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital are involved. Their goal is to detect type 1 diabetes in children before the first symptoms appear.
Early detection - better support
A positive test does not immediately mean insulin injections or a pump. Children who test positive are monitored regularly. Families receive advice and support, and they have time to prepare. Since January 2026, a drug has even been available in Europe that can delay the onset of the disease: teplizumab. It is approved for children aged eight and older who have been diagnosed with early-stage type 1 diabetes but have not yet developed clinical disease. Those who are unaware of their condition cannot make use of this window of opportunity.
“Reaching 100,000 screened children is an important milestone for the diagnosis of early-stage type 1 diabetes,” says Prof. Chantal Mathieu, co-coordinator of EDENT1FI. “This success shows how international collaboration can transform care for people with type 1 diabetes.” A total of 220,000 children and adolescents across Europe are expected to be screened. The screening rate has already reached around 6,500 participants per month.
