Preventing heart and circulatory diseases in young people with type 1 diabetes

Progression of cardio-renal phenotypes in young people with type 1 diabetes: The AdDIT cohort

Having high blood sugar levels damages the heart and circulation. Adults with type 1 diabetes have a higher than normal risk of heart and kidney problems, especially if they have had diabetes since they were very young. Measuring a protein called albumin in the urine of young adults can spot those most likely to develop these problems as they go through puberty. In a large international study called AdDIT, Professor John Deanfield has been investigating whether a group of 843 young people would benefit from drugs which prevent heart and circulatory diseases, including statins and ACE-inhibitors.. It is five years since the original study and the young people who took part are now at an age where health complications are likely to emerge. In this project, the team will perform additional tests to find out whether measuring albumin in early adolescence identified the patients who developed the most severe heart and circulatory problems in young adulthood. They will also investigate whether other factors such as obesity, blood pressure and cholesterol levels have made these heart and circulatory problems worse. Finally, in the people who took statins or ACE inhibitors they will assess whether these treatments have provided any long-term benefits. The findings will inform doctors on how to prevent damage to the heart and circulation in young people with type 1 diabetes so that they can lead longer and healthier lives.