World Diabetes Day: Why early action matters – from screening to new treatments

This World Diabetes Day (14 November), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is highlighting the importance of early action on diabetes. For the type 1 diabetes community, this message is particularly important because early identification, monitoring and access to emerging treatments are creating new opportunities to change the future of type 1 diabetes.

The IDF’s 2026–27 World Diabetes Day theme, Early Action on Diabetes, calls for greater awareness, earlier diagnosis and timely access to care. These priorities are closely aligned with the work of the Australasian Type 1 Diabetes Immunotherapy Collaborative (ATIC) and Type1Screen.

In type 1 diabetes, early action means more than recognising symptoms and starting insulin treatment. We now know that type 1 diabetes can be identified months or even years before symptoms develop, through screening for diabetes-related antibodies in the blood.

The importance of screening

Screening for type 1 diabetes offers an opportunity to identify people in the early stages of the condition, before they require insulin or experience symptoms. With appropriate monitoring, education and support, early identification can help reduce the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at diagnosis and provide families with time to prepare.

It can also open the door to research opportunities and emerging treatments that aim to delay the progression of type 1 diabetes and preserve the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

This World Diabetes Day marks an exciting milestone for Australia’s screening community, with the launch of the new Type1Screen website.

Type1Screen provides free type 1 diabetes screening to Australians aged one year and older, with a simple at-home finger-prick blood test. The new website makes it easier for individuals and families to learn about screening, understand what the results mean and register to receive their free at-home testing kit.

Connecting early detection with new treatment opportunities

At ATIC, we are working to accelerate research and access to clinical trials investigating immunotherapies and other approaches that aim to preserve insulin-producing beta cells and change the course of type 1 diabetes.

Through collaboration between researchers, clinicians, health professionals and people with lived experience, ATIC is helping to connect the type 1 diabetes community with emerging research, clinical trial opportunities and the latest information about potential new treatments.

Early identification, community education and advances in research all have an important role to play in shaping what comes next for type 1 diabetes.

This World Diabetes Day, let’s recognise the importance of early detection in shaping the future of type 1 diabetes. Register now for your free at-home screening kit at type1screen.org