Oxford University researchers are to set up the first UK registry for children and adults at risk of Type 1 diabetes.
The team will build a database and website that will list those who test positive for diabetes autoantibodies, which appear when the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are damaged, and are the most reliable indicator that a person is likely to develop the condition.
It is believed that half the people who have positive autoantibodies are no longer followed up as they are not involved in research studies. This leads to a limited understanding of those people living with them, researchers say.
Researchers hope it will help them better understand the care and support people at high risk of Type 1 require, as well as what it is like being at high risk, and enable them to develop resources to support people and so avoid anxiety and worry. The data collected could also indicate whether being at risk causes people to attend their GP or A&E more often.
The registry will be held at the Diabetes Trials Unit at the University of Oxford and recruitment is expected to start later this year.
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