Fr1da Early Diagnosis and Care of Type 1 Diabetes

With the Fr1da study, 100,000 children in the Free State of Bavaria were offered a one-off screening for the early diagnosis of type 1 diabetes from January 1, 2015 to 2019 as part of the U7 (21st month of life) to U9 (64th month of life) check-ups, or as part of any other visit at the paediatrician between the ages of 2 and 5. After 100,000 children had been screened in the Fr1da study, the screening was continued as part of Fr1da (formerly Fr1da-Plus). The screening was then extended to a second age group from 6 to 10 years (U10-U11). As relatives of people with type 1 diabetes have an up to 10-fold increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes themselves, the screening is also offered to these people between the age 1 to 21 years. The aim of the Fr1da study is 1) to prevent life-threatening ketoacidosis at clinical manifestation of type 1 diabetes, 2) to reduce anxiety, uncertainty and psychological stress through training and intensive support for those affected, 3) to test the feasibility of two-time nationwide screening and evaluate the benefits, 4) to determine the prevalence of early-stage type 1 diabetes in children in defined age groups and in first and second screening, 5) to identify geographical differences and associations with environmental factors in the development and progression of the disease and 6) to prevent disease progression by means of preventive therapies. From 2024, the screening will also be offered in other federal states outside of Bavaria.