First Drug to Delay Onset of Type 1 Diabetes Made Available on NHS
First drug to delay onset of type – The NHS in England and Wales is now offering the first medication to postpone the onset of type 1 diabetes. Teplizumab, an immunotherapy, can extend the time before symptoms appear by up to three years, reducing the need for lifelong insulin treatment. The decision has been called “genuinely exciting” by the NHS medicines body, with potential annual benefits for hundreds of children and young people.
Understanding Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Unlike type 2, which is often linked to weight, it can develop at any age but is most common in early adolescence. Patients must regularly monitor blood glucose levels and use insulin injections or pumps to manage the condition.
For families, the disease demands constant vigilance. “It’s something you can never switch off from,” says Theo Sebastian-Jenkin’s mother, Vicky. “You have to weigh everything you make, counting carbohydrates, to know how much insulin to administer.” Theo, now eight, was diagnosed at four after showing extreme fatigue, weight loss, and constant thirst. Though he qualified for Teplizumab at age eight, his condition still requires careful monitoring to prevent complications.
A Breakthrough in Treatment
Breakthrough T1D’s CEO, Karen Addington, emphasizes the drug’s transformative potential. “If it were your child or someone you love, you’d want to do everything possible to give them more years without the daily burden of managing this relentless condition,” she says. The treatment is administered via intravenous infusion, targeting early immune system activity in the pancreas.
Dima Boichak, from Newbury, Berkshire, was nine when he participated in a UK-wide research study. His family joined after his cousin’s diabetes diagnosis, hoping to catch the condition earlier. “Without this, Dima might have been diagnosed much later, possibly requiring urgent intervention,” says his mother, Elena. As one of the first patients to receive Teplizumab on compassionate grounds, Dima underwent a 14-day hospital infusion regimen.
Screening and Future Prospects
Italy is the only nation with a national screening program for type 1 diabetes in children. In the UK, routine testing isn’t yet available on the NHS, though charities advocate for its implementation. Many cases are detected through incidental blood tests or family history, with environmental factors playing a role in those without a close relative’s diagnosis.
“We now have a treatment that can help make that possible,” says Karen Addington.
The drug’s availability marks a significant milestone after decades of research. Families like Theo’s and Dima’s hope it will ease the burden for countless others facing the same challenges.
