Skip to main content

JDRF has now rebranded to Breakthrough T1D.
Our name has changed, our mission has not.

Expert opinion

Five things we learnt at international conference on type 1 diabetes in young people

Top takeaways from the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) 50th annual conference.
Content last reviewed and updated: 25.10.2024

A photo of two members of Breakthrough T1D UK staff standing behind the large letters #ISPAD50 in blue and yellow.

The International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) works to make life better for young people under 25 living with diabetes, bringing together leading researchers, healthcare professionals, and the diabetes community. This year almost 2,000 experts from around the world gathered in Lisbon, Portugal to mark the 50th anniversary of ISPAD. Here are five of our highlights from the conference.

1. Delaying type 1 diabetes

Ways of preserving the remaining function of insulin-making cells in people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) were a hot topic. Professor Colin Dayan, a researcher funded by Breakthrough T1D, shared that 10 different drugs have been found to help people newly diagnosed with T1D keep making insulin. Some of these drugs are currently used to treat other conditions, while others are new medicines designed specifically to target the immune system malfunction in T1D.

Colin explained his new design for clinical trials called T1D Plus, where people newly diagnosed with T1D are given different combinations of these medicines to amplify their effect. Funded by Breakthrough T1D, T1D Plus will launch a clinical trials network across the UK, Europe and Australia. Several trials will test verapamil alone versus verapamil with other drugs that can slow T1D progression, like baricitinib and ustekinumab.

2. Screening for T1D is vital

Ideally, we want to treat people with T1D as early as possible in their journey with the condition. T1D develops in stages, and we can screen people for biological markers that tell us what stage someone is in. Researchers from around the world shared details of screening programmes taking place in their countries.

UK researcher Prof Richard Oram explained how his genetic risk score, developed with funding from Breakthrough T1D, could be used to find the people at the highest risk of developing T1D. He suggested that these people could then be screened for biological markers of T1D, known as autoantibodies, to find out if they have begun developing T1D. Children aged 3-13 in the UK can be screened for autoantibodies free via the ELSA study, which we are co-funding.

As well as who to screen and how to screen them, experts discussed how to support people who test positive for being in the early stages of T1D. Speakers frequently referred to the international guidance that we launched back in June which details how to teach people with early-stage T1D what signs and symptoms to look out for, offer psychological support, and regularly monitor them for changes in blood glucose levels.

3. Supporting mental health

There is growing recognition that living with T1D, whether you’re the person diagnosed or someone close to them, can take a toll on your mental health. The psychosocial impact of T1D featured in several talks as well as an entire poster session (where research is presented in an interactive Q&A style).

Research into the prevalence of mental health conditions among young people with T1D demonstrated the need to integrate questions about mental wellbeing into diabetes clinic appointments. Meanwhile, targeted support employing collaborative approaches between diabetologists, psychologists and other specialists underscored the importance of healthcare professionals working together to support every aspect of T1D.

Visit our page on emotional wellbeing with type 1 diabetes for advice and information.

4. Updated data on global impact of T1D

The Type 1 Diabetes Index is a platform we developed alongside Life for a Child, ISPAD, and the International Diabetes Federation to shed light on the scale and impact of type 1 diabetes worldwide. Members of the Breakthrough T1D global team hosted a session at ISPAD to introduce a new and improved version of the T1D Index.

Originally launched in 2022, the T1D Index is a data source that has been widely used by T1D advocates to demonstrate the impact of T1D and drive policy changes. The update makes this tool more user-friendly with the inclusion of an interactive dashboard with different features delving deeper into the prevalence of T1D and the healthcare situation for people living with the condition in each country. It also uses a sophisticated computer model to run simulations predicting the difference certain measures, such as access to technology, could make to improve people’s lives in different areas.

5. Addressing healthcare disparities

We heard from healthcare professionals who have been doing incredible work to tackle healthcare inequalities. For example, Gateshead NHS Trust in the Northeast of England shared how they have helped give families access to technology to help them manage their T1D. A project in partnership with the National Children and Young People’s Diabetes Network, refurbished used phones and laptops and added SIM cards donated by Vodafone equipped with calls, texts and data. The project enabled the Trust to provide 297 pieces of equipment to children and young people living in the most deprived areas.

However, healthcare professionals and researchers from other countries including India and the US shared stories of some people lacking access to even basic care and timely diagnosis. While we have work to do to improve global healthcare disparities, the UK serves as a model leading the way with policy and creative methods to give young people access to the best technology to help manage their T1D.

We were joined at the conference by our international Breakthrough T1D colleagues – check out their highlights from ISPAD 2024.

More shared experiences

Read more
A room full of type 1 diabetes specialists listening to a lecture at EASD 2024
Research

Five things we’ve learnt at EASD 2024

The 2024 European Association for the Study of Diabetes conference was packed with inspiring presentations, expert discussions and cutting-edge research.

Read more
Type 1 Discovery magazine cover of issue 97, with yellow borders
News

Type 1 Discovery magazine: Issue 97

Download issue 97 of Type 1 Discovery magazine which includes a feature on our cover star Manisha, a design and technology teacher, who has a passion for raising awareness about type 1.

Read more
Members of Breakthrough T1D UK's Scientific Advisory Council.
Policy and volunteering

What’s it like being on Breakthrough T1D UK's Scientific Advisory Council?

Our Scientific Advisory Council makes sure that the research we fund and the policy work we do in the UK is the most promising and relevant for people living with type 1 diabetes.

Read more
Seth and Clare Moores
Research

“Knowing Seth will need insulin in the future has given us the chance to get our heads around it.”

Seth Moores was diagnosed as being in the early stages of type 1 diabetes through the JDRF-funded ELSA study. In this blog, his mum, Clare, tells us how getting diagnosed early has prepared them for what lies ahead.

Connect with us on social