Know Your Child’s Risk: Early Screening for Type 1 Diabetes
The Canadian Population Screening for Risk of Type 1 Diabetes (CanScreen T1D) is a research consortium working to understand how we can make risk screening for newborns and children a reality across Canada.
The risk of developing type 1 diabetes (T1D) can be detected months or even years before any symptoms appear. Most people who develop T1D do not have a family history of the condition. Because of this, we are asking our families and health professionals in Canada how they feel about T1D risk screening and what it should look like. We are also studying what would be needed scientifically and practically to make this screening available to every family living in Canada.
Our team is working with community members and experts across the country to learn about their needs and priorities. Together, we are co‑designing a pilot T1D risk screening program for the general population. We are creating educational resources and decision-making tools to help families better understand T1D risk screening, what their results mean, and what to expect next. These resources will guide families through screening and monitoring options, support conversations about follow-up care, and provide information about opportunities to participate in clinical trials and more.
As of late 2026, we are preparing to launch type 1 diabetes risk screening for babies up to 6 months of age, born in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. If you would like to stay informed as the program rolls out, we invite you to subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media for updates and announcements. At the same time, our team is working to expand screening access for children aged 18 months to 11 years and 9 months across Canada. We hope to launch this screening pathway in early 2027. Families who are interested can already let us know by expressing their interest here.
Supporting families across Canada is at the heart of our research. We are grateful for your interest in our work and for the families, children, and communities who make this research possible. Thank you for being part of this journey with us!
Screening for a Better Tomorrow
T1D is a life-long disease without a cure. This condition requires daily management and monitoring, which can be tricky for children and adolescents. Moreover, about 85-90% of people who develop T1D do not have family members with the disease. The risk of T1D in the Canadian population remains largely unknown.
Currently, Canada does not have a national T1D risk screening program – so, our research team is looking to develop a pilot program to bridge this gap and build a healthier Canada.
What’s New
Thank You!
The CanScreen T1D research consortium is funded by Breakthrough T1D Canada (formerly JDRF Canada) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
