Who should take this test?

Our program is specifically designed for individuals with a family history of type 1 diabetes (T1D) who want to understand their risk and access early monitoring. However, anyone who wishes to know their genetic risk may be tested, even without a known family history.

Can I register and order a test for my child?

Yes. Parents or legal guardians can create an account and register children for testing. After setting up your parent account, you will be prompted to add your child's details. From there, you can manage their screening process, order kits, and view their results all in one secure place.

At what age should my child be screened?

Risk markers can be identified at any age, but many families choose to screen early (starting as young as age 0) to establish a baseline. More than half of children are diagnosed with T1D only after developing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious complication. Knowing about elevated risk earlier can help families and their doctors stay alert to early signs.

Do I need a doctor's referral to get tested?

No. You can order our screening kits directly through our website without a physician's referral.

How do I collect the sample at home?

Our kits are designed for ease of use. You simply use the provided swab to collect a saliva sample, place it in the secure tube, and mail it back to us using the prepaid shipping label. No clinical visit is necessary.

Is the test painful for children?

Our initial DNA screening is completely painless and uses a simple saliva swab—no needles required. The follow-up autoantibody test does require a small finger prick to collect a few drops of blood, but this is a quick process that can be done comfortably in your own home.

How long will it take to get my results?

For both DNA and autoantibody tests, you can expect results within 2–3 weeks after our lab receives your sample.

How accurate is the DNA screening?

In our pilot study of more than 1,000 individuals with a family history of T1D, those classified as 'higher risk' were about 10-20x more likely to test positive for multiple autoantibodies than the 'lower-risk' group. These are early research findings, to be presented at the 2026 ADA conference, and have not been independently validated.

What happens if I'm classified as "high-risk"?

We provide a complementary genetic counseling session to help you understand your results. We also offer ongoing autoantibody testing, coordinated with your healthcare provider and can help you connect with an endocrinologist if necessary.

Is my genetic data private?

Absolutely. We use industry-standard encryption and secure servers to protect your information. Your genetic data is de-identified before analysis and is never shared with third parties or insurance companies without your explicit consent.

Will these results affect my health insurance?

Under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), health insurance companies in the U.S. are prohibited from using genetic information to deny coverage or determine premiums.

Still have questions?

Contact us at info@t1dscout.com

On a mission to make diabetes screening easy and accessible

Many families struggle to understand their T1D risk due to complex testing, but T1D Scout offers a simpler solution with a cheek swab instead of a daunting blood test.

The people behind T1D Scout

Our team

Son of an endocrinologist ❤️
Yuta Matsuda
Co-founder & CEO
— My mother spent her career as an endocrinologist in Japan. When she retired, I set out to continue her mission.
Mom of a son with T1D ❤️
Erin Poche
Chief Editor, T1D Strong
— As the mom of a son with T1D, I want families to hear about early detection before a diagnosis, not after.
20 years with T1D ❤️
Julia Dunn
Social Media Manager
— I've lived with T1D for 20 years. Talking with our families every day is the part of this job I love most.
Diagnosed with T1D as an adult ❤️
Rebecca Wondimu
Genetic Counselor
— I'm a genetic counselor who also lives with T1D. I help families understand what a risk result actually means for them.
A dad living with T1D for 30 years ❤️
Kyle J. Rose
Strategic Advisor · VP, International Diabetes Federation
This is personal — I'm a dad living with T1D. Making screening available to anyone is a mission I share.

Scientific & clinical advisors

Cares for families with T1D ❤️
Viral Shah, M.D.
Advisor · Professor of Medicine & Director of
Diabetes Clinical Research, Indiana University
— Now that disease-modifying therapy exists, knowing risk early matters more than it ever has.
Living with T1D ❤️
Korey Hood, M.D.
Advisor · Endocrinologist; Professor, Stanford University
— What drew me in is that they treat a result as the start of a conversation, not the end.
25 years with T1D ❤️
David Walton
Advisor · CEO, T1D Exchange; former executive, Johnson & Johnson
— I knew these founders long before T1D Scout existed. I've backed the mission from the start.
Cares for families with T1D ❤️
Robert M. Cuddihy, M.D.
Advisor · Endocrinologist; former ADA board member
— Families deserve access to screening. That's the part of this mission I care about most.
40 years in diabetes medicine ❤️
Anders Boss
Advisor · Former executive, MannKind, Sanofi, Eli Lilly
— I've worked in diabetes for over 40 years. Screening is the piece the field has been missing.

Board & investors

30 years with T1D ❤️
Frank Westermann
Board Director · Founder, mySugr
— Building tools for people with T1D has been my whole career. Screening belongs in that toolkit.
— What drew me in is that they treat a result as the start of a conversation, not the end.
Dad of a child with T1D ❤️
John Brooks
Investor · Founder, Insulet
— I backed this team as soon as I understood the mission. Early detection changes what's possible.
— I backed this team as soon as I understood the mission. Early detection changes what's possible.
Three decades with T1D ❤️
Fredric Devong
Investor
— I invest in technology for people living with T1D. Backing T1D Scout was an easy decision.
— I put money behind people, not just products. This team shares the mission — and I live it too.
Lives with T1D herself ❤️
Yuki Tsuchioka
Investor
— I put money behind people, not just products. This team shares the mission — and I live it too.
— I put money behind people, not just products. This team shares the mission — and I live it too.

We work with T1D communities across the world

GrownupT1Ds

A welcoming nonprofit where adults with T1D can swap stories and find real-life friendships through local meetups and honest conversation.

Learn More

Diabetes Connections

Hosted by Stacey Simms to keep you updated on the latest T1D tech and heart-warming community stories.

Learn More

Mom’s Night Out

These special weekends offer a much-needed “hug” for T1D moms, combining helpful education with plenty of laughter and shared understanding.

Learn More

DiabetesNerdNetwork

A space to get involved in the future of care by connecting with clinical trials and easy-to-understand research updates.

Learn More

Your DNA is never sold. Ever.

Your genetic data is encrypted and stored securely. T1D Scout does not sell, share, or license your data to third parties. You can request deletion of your data at any time. We will tell you exactly what we do with your information at every step of your journey with us.

Read our full privacy commitment

Hear from real families

“I have type 1 myself, so the idea of needles just to screen my kids was awful. With T1D Scout it was a simple saliva swab at home, done in minutes, no tears.”
Maria L.,
Mom living with T1D
“After our oldest was diagnosed, I worried about our younger son but never knew what to do about it. Screening him gave us a clear risk picture and a real plan for monitoring.”
James T.,
Dad of a child living with T1D
“Screening four kids sounds like a nightmare, but the saliva test meant we did them all at home in one afternoon. Managing my own T1D, that simplicity is the only reason it got done.”
Priya R.,
Mom of four living with T1D

Questions about our team or the science?
We are happy to answer.

Get in touch

On a mission to make diabetes screening easy and accessible

The people behind T1D Scout

Our team

Scientific & clinical advisors

Board & investors

Your DNA is never sold. Ever.

Hear from real families

Questions about our team or the science?We are happy to answer.

Questions about our team or the science?
We are happy to answer.