Contact:
Jon Berg
Sanford Health Media Relations
605-312-4421 / jon.berg@sanfordhealth.org
SIOUX FALLS, SD, April 19, 2021 – Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the country, launched the PLEDGE study to identify and predict which children are at risk of developing type 1 diabetes (T1D) and celiac disease.
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust awarded Sanford Research a grant of $ 1.3 million for this study, which included routine infant and child screenings at all Sanford Health locations in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Fargo will perform. North Dakota. This is the first time population screening for T1D has been offered in the Midwest.
“A recent study showed that we can potentially delay the onset of type 1 diabetes – if we can identify who has already taken this path,” said Dr. Kurt Griffin, a pediatric endocrinologist at Sanford Health. “Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet was a successful autoantibody screening program in relatives with type 1 diabetes. However, this does not apply to 90% of children who later develop diabetes. The Sanford PLEDGE study enables us to offer this screening more comprehensively and integrate it into routine care to minimize the burden on families or providers. “
Depending on a child’s age at entry into the study, a small amount of blood will be collected while being seen for routine care around childbirth at 2 and 5 years of age.
For children diagnosed with autoantibodies related to T1D, Sanford healthcare providers can provide education, monitoring and early intervention to prevent serious illness at diagnosis and improve long-term outcomes. Where appropriate, Sanford will also offer participation in T1D prevention clinical trials to delay or stop the progression of T1D.
“We are committed to improving the lives of people affected by T1D, including those who are at risk of developing the disease,” said Anne Koralova, Ph.D., Type 1 Diabetes Program Officer at the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “Increased screening can have a significant impact on the health of these vulnerable people. We are excited to partner with Sanford Health on this innovative initiative. “
1 in 200 people in the US has T1D. T1D is an autoimmune disease that destroys the beta cells that make insulin. Over time, this leads to high blood sugar levels that go untreated and are life-threatening.
Currently, lifelong insulin treatment is required for people with T1D to control blood sugar levels and maintain good health. In many children, T1D develops unexpectedly and it can take months or years for the onset of autoimmunity to result in high blood sugar. Ninety percent of T1D diagnoses are made without a family history.
The lifelong autoimmune disease celiac disease develops unexpectedly and often immediately without symptoms. If left untreated, severe damage to the small intestine and other organs can occur. Children identified with celiac disease-related autoantibodies will be referred to clinical care for further evaluation.
While traditional clinical trials require clinical coordinators to enroll patients, the PLEDGE trial allows parents to electronically consent through their My Sanford Chart accounts and create labs during routine pediatric care that should encourage greater participation.
“Now is the time when we can justify expanding autoantibody screening to include type 1 diabetes,” said Dr. Griffin. “What we learn from the Sanford PLEDGE study will help develop the evidence needed to add this screening to standards of care.”
Parents can enroll their children in the study if they are five years or younger, are receiving routine care at Sanford Health, and are not diagnosed with T1D. An annual questionnaire will be sent to parents up to the child’s seventh birthday to update their medical history.
To learn more or to sign up for PLEDGE, speak to your child’s GP or visit sanfordhealth.org.
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, one of the largest healthcare systems in the United States, is dedicated to the integrated delivery of health care, genomic medicine, elderly care and services, global clinics, research and affordable insurance. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization includes 46 hospitals, 1,400 doctors, and more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care facilities in 26 states and nine countries. Learn more about Sanford Health’s transformative work to improve the human condition at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.
Via the Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust seeks to improve lives by supporting exceptional healthcare efforts and selecting location-based initiatives in the US and around the world. Since starting active grant-making in 2008, Helmsley has donated more than $ 3 billion to a variety of community causes. The Helmsley Type 1 Diabetes Program is one of the largest private T1D donors in the nation, focused on understanding the disease, developing better treatments, and improving care and access. For more information about Helmsley and its programs, please visit helmsleytrust.org.