A Windsor-Essex health organization says a new community-based screening program is helping identify people at risk of Type 1 diabetes before they become seriously ill. The Windsor-Essex Community Health Centre is the first community-based provider in Canada to offer Type 1 diabetes screening outside a hospital setting, bringing testing closer to residents who may be at increased risk of developing the disease. The screening involves a simple finger-prick blood test that takes only a few minutes to complete, with results typically available within 10 days. The program is available to people between the ages of one and 65 who have certain risk factors, including a family history of Type 1 diabetes or another autoimmune condition. Since launching in September, the program has screened 420 people across Windsor-Essex. Health officials say nine participants were identified as being at risk for Type 1 diabetes before symptoms of the disease appeared, allowing for earlier monitoring and intervention. The screening initiative has also uncovered cases of misdiagnosis among adults. More than 30 people who had previously been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes were found through testing to have Type 1 diabetes instead. The community health centre says the program aims to increase awareness of Type 1 diabetes risk factors and improve access to early screening for eligible residents.
