Randox Type 1 Diabetes Home Test Kit

Product Summary

Find out if you are at risk of Type 1 Diabetes based on your genetics.

Evaluate your risk of developing Type 1 Diabetes in the future based on your genetic fingerprint.

• Screen for 10 genetic variants to calculate a unique genetic risk score

SAMPLE TYPE: Finger prick

RESULTS WITHIN: 3-5 working days

Why Get Tested?

425 million adults are estimated to have diabetes with around 8 million thought to have Type 1 Diabetes. A further 1 in 2 people remain undiagnosed.

Genetics is a major risk factor for developing Type 1 Diabetes. Despite this only 10% of people with Type 1 Diabetes have a family member affected making it difficult to identify those at high risk of developing the condition without testing. Furthermore, up to half of all Type 1 Diabetes cases occur in adulthood.

Screen for up to 10 genetic variants from a simple blood sample to calculate your unique genetic risk score. Based on this score you will be classified as high risk or low risk of developing the disease in the future.

What is tested for in this kit?

SNP Gene

• rs2187668 DR3/DR4-DQ8 DR3/DR3
• rs7454108 DR4-DQ8/DR4-DQ8
  DR4-DQ8/X
  DR3/X
• rs1264813 HLA_A_24
• rs2395029 HLA_B_5701
• rs3129889 HLA_DRB1_15
• rs2476601 PTPN22
• rs689 INS
• rs12722495 IL2RA
• rs2292239 ERBB3
• rs10509540 C10orf59

* Please note from time to time there may be temporary changes to the test menu. If you are booking for a specific test please contact us to confirm availability.

How it works

You must be over 18 years of age to purchase one of these home blood sample collection kits.

Take your sample

• Follow the instructions with your kit. You can watch the instructional video here.

Send it to the lab

• Activate your kit before sending your sample back to the lab.
• Place the prepaid label on the return package supplied containing your sample, and drop it off at the post office.

Get Your Results

• Once the lab receives your sample, they will begin to process it.
• Your results will be ready 2-3 days afterwards.
• Log in to your account to view your results.

What happens after I get my results?

You will get a personalised report

• An easy-to-interpret test report will provide a breakdown of your results, what they mean and the next steps.
• Reports will be emailed to the email address provided at the time of registration.
• Where necessary, if treatment is recommended, you can then share your report with your doctor to get prescription-based medication or a supplementation recommendation if and where necessary.

FAQ's

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Type 1 Diabetes is a serious condition whereby a lack of insulin causes blood glucose levels to rise. Blood glucose is the body’s main source of energy and comes mainly from the food we eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose in the blood get into cells to be used for energy.

In most people with Type 1 Diabetes, the immune system, which normally fights infection, attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. As a result, the pancreas stops producing insulin. Without insulin, glucose cannot get into cells and blood glucose levels rise above normal. Over time, high blood glucose levels can damage the heart, eyes, nerves and kidneys.

Symptoms of diabetes include:

• Excessive thirst
• Needing to urinate more frequently, particularly at night
• Feeling more tired than usual
• Weight loss
• Genital itching or recurring thrush
• Cuts or wounds taking longer to heal
• Blurred vision

Type 1 diabetes typically occurs in children and young adults, although it can appear at any age. Having a parent or sibling with the disease may increase the risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes tends to develop more slowly in adults and in some cases may be misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Determining the correct diagnosis is important because the best treatment for each condition is different.

Is Type 1 Diabetes genetic?

While 90% of people with Type 1 Diabetes have no family connection with the condition, genetic factors can increase your risk of developing Type 1 Diabetes in future.

How does Type 1 Diabetes develop?

Over 50 genes have been identified that may influence your risk of developing Type 1 Diabetes, regardless of age, diet, or lifestyle. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition that causes your immune system to attack insulin- producing cells found in the pancreas. Without insulin the glucose levels in your blood will rise and your body cannot function.

What does a high genetic risk score mean?

Individuals with a high genetic risk score for Type 1 Diabetes have a higher lifetime risk than that of the general population. Individuals at increased risk have a 1 in 10 to 1 in 40 chance of developing Type 1 Diabetes. Should you develop symptoms of diabetes (view symptoms here) we recommend contacting a healthcare professional urgently.

What are the next steps if I have a high genetic risk score?

There are research efforts globally that screen for Type 1 Diabetes using a biomarker called autoantibodies. Autoantibodies that target the cells that produce insulin are an early blood marker for Type 1 Diabetes with the goal of identifying Type 1 Diabetes before the development of high blood sugar.

There are two studies in the UK that look to identify individuals with early, asymptomatic Type 1 Diabetes.

The ELSA study (view study here) is a study of children, and the T1DRA study is a study of adults (view study here). We recommend enrolling in these research studies if you would like to be screened for type 1 diabetes. The ELSA study currently recruits children between the ages of 3 to 13 years. We are working with ELSA to include screening of children ages 14-16 and this will be available by summer 2024. If you are interested in autoantibody screening, we recommend enrolling in ELSA as this becomes available.

Is there an age limit to purchase a home blood test kit?

Yes, you must be over 18 years of age to purchase one of our home blood sample collection kits.