Did you know family members of people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have a 15 times greater risk of developing the disease themselves?  And did you know that all it takes to find out if you are at risk of developing T1D is a simple risk screening?

On Sunday, May 20, you will have the opportunity to find out your risk at the 36th annual Nordstrom Beat the Bridge!  The Benaroya Research Institute’s Diabetes Clinical Research Program will be at the event screening relatives of people with T1D for increased risk of developing the disease. What is risk screening?

• Licensed phlebotomists will draw a small amount of blood.
• A simple blood test can identify five autoantibodies that signal an increased risk of type 1 diabetes (T1D). These autoantibodies may show up years before symptoms appear.
• TrialNet screening reveals if you are in the early stages of type 1 diabetes.
• Those in the early stages of type 1 diabetes can be closely monitored and may be eligible to take part in TrialNet studies testing ways to slow or stop disease progression.
• When you get screened, you’re helping TrialNet make important advances in type 1 diabetes research.

Who can be screened?

• Anyone between the ages of 1 and 45 with a sibling, child or parent with type 1 diabetes.
• Anyone between the ages of 1 and 20 with a sibling, child, parent, cousin, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, grandparent or half-sibling with type 1 diabetes.

After you Beat the Bridge, stop by the Benaroya Research Institute tent to learn about our groundbreaking research and get screened!  Our team is also recruiting for the EXTEND study for newly diagnosed kids age 6 – 17, as well as the BRIDge study for adults living with T1D. See you Sunday!