Your child screened positive. What happens next?

A positive screen can feel like receiving a diagnosis and a warning at the same time. You may be told your child looks healthy today but has a higher risk of needing insulin later. The next step isn't panic. It's confirmation and a written plan.

Confirm the result

Ask which autoantibody was positive, whether more than one was found, whether the result has been confirmed on a second sample, and whether glucose testing was done. One autoantibody and multiple persistent autoantibodies carry different risks. Don't label a child Stage 1 or Stage 2 from an at-home screening result alone.

Get the monitoring schedule in writing

Follow-up may include A1C, fasting or random glucose, oral glucose-tolerance testing, CGM, repeat antibodies, or symptom checks. Frequency depends on age, stage, results, and program. Ask who receives results, who calls after an abnormal value, what number to use after hours, and what symptoms require same-day testing.

Keep a glucose meter and ketone testing plan if the clinical team recommends them. Learn the classic symptoms: increased thirst and urination, bed-wetting after dryness, weight loss, fatigue, blurry vision, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and deep or rapid breathing.

Ask about Tzield for Stage 2

Tzield is approved to delay progression from Stage 2 to Stage 3 type 1 diabetes in adults and children age 8 and older. Eligibility requires confirmation of Stage 2 and review for contraindications and treatment requirements. The labeled regimen is a once-daily intravenous infusion for 14 consecutive days. Baseline and ongoing lab evaluation, infection precautions, premedication, and management of infusion reactions are all part of the process.

Access can involve medical-benefit authorization, an infusion center, travel, and school or work absences. Ask the treating center to start a benefits investigation early and to check for manufacturer patient-support programs. Manufacturer assistance and copay support have their own insurance and eligibility restrictions.

Prepare without turning childhood into surveillance

Tell the school only what's useful: symptoms to recognize, who to contact, and what accommodations are needed for appointments or temporary monitoring. Review insurance networks and identify a pediatric endocrinology team before Stage 3. Keep the plan available to all caregivers.

The goal isn't to live as if diagnosis has already happened. It's to make sure that if glucose changes, your child enters care through a planned clinic call rather than an emergency room.

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