TO: Colorado Healthcare Providers

 

Please consider joining ASK to help assess the benefits and cost-effectiveness of universal screening for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and Celiac Disease (CD). T1D and CD are the most common autoimmune diseases of childhood, diagnosed in one in ~100 of Colorado children. Symptoms can be initially subtle and missed; however, serological markers are present for many months before overt symptoms.

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• In Colorado, almost 60% of children diagnosed with T1D have life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). That rate can be cut to <10% when parents know that the child has islet autoantibodies, that is pre-T1D.
   

• An estimated half of children with CD are undiagnosed and untreated. This could change with a universal screening for transglutaminase autoantibody. Early diagnosis and a gluten-free diet prevent poor growth, micro-nutrient deficiencies and long-term complications of CD.

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As a provider, please join ASK to collect data that will determine whether preventive screening practices should include pre-T1D and CD. The ASK Research Program offers:

Collaborative Model

• ASK staff will screen your patients, free of charge, working closely with your clinic staff in alignment with your practice needs.
   

Communication

• Families may choose to be informed of the results by ASK via a letter or/and a phone call.
   

Treatment for Pre-T1D

• Children with pre-T1D will be monitored by ASK at the Barbara Davis Center; their parents will receive free pre-diabetes management education.

• These children will be eligible for intervention studies.
   

Treatment for Celiac Disease

• Children with undiagnosed CD will be referred back to you for follow up and/or to the Center for Celiac Disease at the Children’s Hospital Colorado.
  
   

EMAIL:  Partners@ASKhealth.org  or  CALL: 303-724-1275