A maternity research team helping investigate a new test for diabetes in newborn babies has hit a key milestone.
The research service at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is taking part in a trial looking at a genetic test for type one diabetes.
The team has now spoken with more than 2,000 parents of babies born in its delivery unit at the University Hospital of North Tees who have agreed for their baby to be involved.
Amy Clarkson and her partner Lee who had their baby Ellis Francis in the unit were among those involved.
Amy said: “We signed up because it took years for us to have our little IVF miracle, so we felt that it’s important that tests are completed to make sure our baby is healthy, and based on the results felt that early knowledge and intervention would be beneficial in supporting him.
“The team at the hospital were brilliant in explaining the purpose and the importance of the study.
“We hope that many more parents get the opportunity to take part in the study and babies can be tested early.”
Genetic test for type one diabetes
The INGR1D2 (investigating genetic risk for type one diabetes) regional study is aiming to find the percentage of children who have genetic markers that put them at more than 10% increased risk of developing type one diabetes.
This condition affects one in every 250 children nationally every year, causing glucose levels in the blood to become too high.
People with type one diabetes have to take insulin every day to manage their condition and increases the risks of developing other conditions.
Sharon Gowans, research midwife and the Trust’s principal investigator for the study , said: “By screening newborns to identify those at higher risk of developing type one diabetes, this study offers parents the chance to know more information about the signs and symptoms to look out for.
“It also offers parents the chance to get involved in further research aimed at reducing the chance of their baby developing the condition.”
Claire Morning, clinical trials assistant, added: “Thanks to parents like Amy and Lee and so many others, we are finding out more. Without them, we couldn’t improve the care we give and the treatment we can give to our babies.
“We are so grateful to them and to the whole maternity team for supporting us in having those conversations with parents about being a part of this study.”
For more information about the study, visit the National Institute for Health Research page.
