Nerve damage in young people with type 1 diabetes

On a world scale, more than 1.1 million children and young people and 463 million adults live with diabetes, and 10% have type 1 diabetes. Nerve damage, also called neuropathy, is a known complication of diabetes, and is seen in 50% of adults with diabetes.

“We do not know much about neuropathy in young people with diabetes – have they already developed measurable neuropathy?

And if they have, which types of nerves are affected first? Do we use optimal methods for screening?” asks Vinni Faber, a PhD student at the Department of Clinical Medicine at the Danish Pain Research Centre.

She continues: The support of the Vissing Foundation is important in enabling us to investigate the incidence and severity of various types of neuropathy in 60 adolescents (15-18 years) with type 1 diabetes and 20 healthy controls. During the project, we will investigate the nerves to the cardiovascular system, sweat glands, gastrointestinal tract and bladder. In addition, the nerves in the eyes and skin will be visualized, and the senses of taste and smell will be investigated.”