Prevention

There's currently no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes, but this is a very active area of research. Researchers are working on:

• Preventing type 1 diabetes in people who have a high risk of the disease, and recently identified at least one drug that may slow down the development of the condition.
• Preventing further destruction of the islet cells in people who are newly diagnosed.

Doctors can detect the antibodies associated with type 1 diabetes in children who have a high risk of the disorder. These antibodies can be detected months or even years before the first symptoms of type 1 diabetes appear, but there's currently no known way to slow or prevent the disease when antibodies are found. It's also important to know that not everyone with these antibodies goes on to develop type 1 diabetes.

While there's nothing you could have done to prevent your child's type 1 diabetes, you can help your child prevent its complications by:

• Helping your child maintain good blood sugar control as much as possible
• Teaching your child the importance of eating a healthy diet and participating in regular physical activity
• Scheduling regular visits with your child's diabetes doctor and a yearly eye exam beginning no more than five years after the initial diabetes diagnosis or by age 10