Early Detection of Type 1 Diabetes in Children: From May 2025 also available in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate
Starting May 1, 2025, the pioneering study “Fr1da” for early detection of type 1 diabetes will expand into the German states of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate. Pediatric practices in these regions will then be able to offer families with children aged two to ten free screenings for islet autoantibodies, a key early marker of type 1 diabetes. This expansion aims to further advance early detection efforts across Germany, allowing for the timely identification of at-risk children and ensuring access to optimal medical care.
Fr1da: A Nationwide Initiative for Early Detection Since 2015
The Fr1da study was initiated in 2015 by the Institute of Diabetes Research at Helmholtz Munich and offers a population-based screening program to detect type 1 diabetes in its earliest stages. To date, approximately 220,000 children in participating states – Bavaria, Saxony, Lower Saxony, and Hamburg – have undergone screening. In over 600 cases (0.3%), an early stage of the disease was identified. Affected families are invited to join the Fr1da education and prevention program, enabling early diagnosis at the time of clinical onset and significantly lowering the risk of severe metabolic complications.
“The expansion of the Fr1da study marks a significant milestone in our efforts to advance the early detection of type 1 diabetes. Identifying the disease at an early stage gives families crucial time to prepare for the diagnosis and begin timely treatment. We remain hopeful that we can make early detection of type 1 diabetes available nationwide as an integral part of standard healthcare,” says Prof. Anette-Gabriele Ziegler, Principal Investigator of the study and Director of the Helmholtz Munich Institute of Diabetes Research.
Dr. Michael Hubmann, President of the BVKJ (Berufsverband der Kinder- und Jugendärzt*innen e.V., German Association of Paediatric and Adolescent Care Specialists) strongly supports the initiative: “Expanding the Fr1da study to Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse is an important step in granting more children access to early detection. A timely diagnosis enables a gentler start to therapy and can prevent severe disease progression. As a professional association, we fully endorse this program and encourage our colleagues in these new regions to participate.”
Support from Politics
Bavaria's Minister for Health and Prevention, Judith Gerlach, welcomes the success of the Fr1da study: "The Bavarian Ministry of Health supported 'Fr1da' as a pilot project in 2015 as part of the Initiative 'Gesund.Leben.Bayern.'– an excellent investment in children's health. Health literacy is especially important to me: knowledge about the disease and its symptoms is crucial for affected children and their parents. I am pleased that this important research began in Bavaria and is now being expanded to even more federal states. I thank the participating pediatricians and adolescent doctors for their valuable work."
Type 1 Diabetes: Early Diagnosis, Better Outcomes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Without insulin, the body cannot regulate blood sugar levels, requiring lifelong insulin therapy. Antibody development typically begins in childhood or adolescence and may progress silently over many months or years. In Germany, approximately 1 in 250 children develops type 1 diabetes. If undetected and untreated, initial disease onset can lead to life-threatening metabolic imbalances.
A simple blood test can identify the condition at an early stage, enabling close monitoring and early intervention. The benefits are substantial. Families have time to adjust to the diagnosis and become familiar with treatment before symptoms become acute, resulting a gentle introduction into therapy. Furthermore, early detection reduces the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is one of the most dangerous complications of undiagnosed diabetes. In the Fr1da study cohort, only 2.5 percent of children presented with DKA at the time of clinical diagnosis – far below the national average, which has long exceeded 20 percent, and has at times risen above 40 percent.
Opportunities for Participation in Prevention Research
Children diagnosed in the early stages may also be eligible to participate in clinical prevention trials. These studies aim to delay or even prevent the onset of clinical type 1 diabetes. For example, participation may provide access to the immunomodulatory medication Teplizumab, which has been shown to delay disease progression by an average of three years. Teplizumab is currently approved in the United States and can be accessed in Germany through a special compassionate use program overseen by the Paul Ehrlich Institute.
Information for Families and Pediatric Practices
Parents who wish to have their children screened free of charge can now contact participating pediatric practices in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate. Physicians interested in joining the study will receive full support and detailed guidance from the study organizers.
For further information, visit www.typ1diabetes-frueherkennung.de
Contact the Fr1da hotline: 0800 464 88 35
Email: diabetes.frueherkennung@helmholtz-munich.de
