Portugal Launches Pilot Screening for Type 1 Diabetes in 5‑6‑Year‑Old Children

The Directorate‑General of Health announced that the pilot will be carried out in the local health units (ULS) of São João, Coimbra and São José (Lisbon), aiming to screen a total of 4,500 five‑year‑old children. Sónia do Vale, director of the National Diabetes Programme, said the first screenings are expected to start in the coming days in São João and Coimbra.

The test consists of a simple blood draw taken at the time of the children’s scheduled vaccinations, measuring antibodies that indicate an asymptomatic phase of type 1 diabetes. If the result is positive, the child will be followed up before the disease becomes clinically apparent, allowing preparation for insulin therapy. Do Vale explained that early detection can avoid more than 90% of cases of diabetic ketoacidosis, a life‑threatening emergency.

The pilot’s duration will depend on how quickly samples are collected and on family participation, but it could be completed in less than a year. Portugal also participates in a broader European screening project that targets people with a high familial risk of type 1 diabetes, a programme that may be rolled out nationally in the coming years.