On November 21st, Sydsvenskan featured an opinion piece calling for a national screening strategy for type 1 diabetes (T1D) – co-authored by experts from Lund University, DiaUnion and Medicon Valley Alliance.
After more than a century of insulin-based treatment, new therapies are emerging that can delay – and potentially prevent – the onset of T1D. But these treatments rely on one critical factor: early detection. That’s why we need national strategies.
In Sweden, T1D is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood. Yet, most diagnoses still only occur after symptoms have appeared and 1 in 4 children present with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at onset.
We can now detect T1D years before symptoms appear, giving families a better start, improving outcomes, and paving the way for preventive care.
Screening studies are already underway in Region Skåne and Örebro, but national coordination is urgently needed.
At DiaUnion, we have shown how cross-border collaboration can make early detection a reality. Since 2020, we have analysed thousands of samples and built shared infrastructure between Sweden and Denmark – earning the designation Screening Center of Excellence from the European research network INNODIA.
Now is the time for Sweden to act. The authors, Åke Lernmark, Helena Elding Larsson, Anette Steenberg and Finn Kristensen urge national policymakers, healthcare providers, and decision-makers to take the next steps toward a coordinated national solution for early detection.
Read the full article (in Swedish) in Sydsvenskan: ”Största genombrottet i kampen mot typ 1-diabetes på ett sekel.”
📷 Picture by Lotta Jansson
