Sanford PLEDGE: Ongoing battle against type 1 diabetes

This paid piece is sponsored by Sanford Health.

Nearly a century after its discovery, treatment of type 1 diabetes, or T1D, still relies on multiple injections of insulin every day. At Sanford Health, efforts are in place to change this. Families are encouraged to enroll children in the Sanford PLEDGE study – a research screening program to identify children on the path to T1D and celiac disease before symptoms emerge.

Early detection and treatment should improve long-term outcomes for T1D and celiac disease. Until now, it has not been practical to screen children who do not have family members with T1D. With the generous support of The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, Sanford Heath is offering screenings to all children who are:

• Between birth and 5 years of age.
• Receiving routine care at Sanford Health.
• Not diagnosed with T1D.

About one out of every 200 children are expected to have autoantibodies as an early sign of T1D or celiac disease. For these families, Sanford will offer:

• Education, monitoring and early intervention to prevent serious illness.
• Participation in clinical trials that may delay or stop the progression of T1D.
• Referral to clinical care for celiac disease.

Depending on a child’s age when entering the study, a small amount of blood will be collected during the course of routine care at birth, age 2 and age 5. There are short surveys about health and worries periodically until age 7.

In its first year, the PLEDGE study expanded to include all primary care clinics in Sioux Falls and in Fargo and Bismarck, North Dakota. More than 2,000 children are signed up. Heading into its second year, plans include expanding eligible age groups and reaching every clinic in the Sanford footprint, with the ultimate goal of enrolling 33,000 children over the next four years.

For information or to sign up, please visit the PLEDGE website, or talk to your child’s medical provider.