Screen & Support
Why Early Screening Matters
- Type 1 diabetes (T1D) often develops silently
- Without screening: Roughly 1 in 3 children and many adults are diagnosed in life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
- T1D develops in stages and may start long before symptoms are present and insulin is needed.
free screening clinic at sdri
When: Every Monday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Where: 2219 Bath Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
In Ventura County, you can screen in clinic at the Pediatric Diagnostic Center (if this is the home of your primary care provider) or through local screening events.
Free Screening* Includes:
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Simple blood test for T1D autoantibodies
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Personalized risk report
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Access to cutting-edge treatment options for presymptomatic T1D, including FDA-approved therapies like Teplizumab (Tzield), that may delay the onset by up to 2 years or more
- Expert guidance and follow-up from our healthcare team
  *Not included in routine physical exams
Who Should Consider Screening?
- Anyone with a family history of T1D (parent, sibling, or child).
- Individuals with certain autoimmune conditions (Hashimoto thyroiditis, Graves disease, celiac disease, Addison disease, vitiligo, autoimmune hepatitis, myasthenia gravis, and pernicious anemia).
- Anyone who wants to understand their risk.
To schedule a screening appointment or reach out to our team, please fill out the form below and we will be in touch with you shortly.
How Type 1 Diabetes Develops
Prevention is Power
By identifying more people in the early stages of type 1 diabetes through early detection, researchers can gain critical insights into how the disease progresses and advance studies aimed at delaying, and ultimately preventing it from developing.
Tzield (Teplizumab) can:
- Delay the onset of clinical type 1 diabetes by 4 years (median) in eligible patients
- Help preserve remaining beta cells
- Be especially helpful for children as young as 8 years
Frequently Asked Questions
What age range is eligible for screening?
Anyone age 1 and older are eligible for screening.
Approximate time required?
The whole process including consent and blood sample can take 10-15 minutes.
How quickly do participants receive results, and briefly, what happens next?
Results can take 2 - 4 weeks after which point, you will receive a call or email with results and guidance for next steps. If even one antibody is present upon intial screening, we will then perform confirmatory testing and will guide you through the process.
Even if the screening is free, do you need insurance to participate in any follow-up treatment?
The initial screen with confirmatory testing through SDRI is free of charge. Further testing if needed can be covered by insurance.
Is Spanish-language support available at SDRI during the screening clinics?
Absolutely, we have bilingual consents and providers who can help explain and guide you through the process.
Is there a dedicated phone number or email for screening-related questions?
Please contact Alex AlChwikani, Program Manager, at aalchwikani@sansum.org or call (805) 220-5340.