Australia’s biggest study into the causes of type 1 diabetes recently recruited its 1500th and final participant right here in WA.
The study is following 1500 babies from pregnancy through to childhood to determine which factors trigger, or protect, the development of type 1 diabetes.
We’ve still got a few months to wait until we meet our latest ENDIA participant so mum Bethany Felton, of Wundowie, spoke to us about the importance of being involved in the study.
Beth, who was 14 years old when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, became involved in ENDIA when she was pregnant with her first child, Freddy, now three.
“I was always wary about my diabetes causing health problems for my baby,” Beth said.
“I welcomed any opportunity to help in the research of type 1 diabetes and finding the cause and the cure.”
Beth said ENDIA nurses Alex Tully and Alison Roberts had been wonderful.
“Considering we live just outside the metropolitan area in Wundowie, Alex and Alison have always been very accommodating from the beginning with doing home visits to collect samples from Freddy, my husband and myself.
“Alex and Alison (aka Al and Al) are the friendliest people and have become a real part of our family, with Freddy becoming particularly close with them and always has a great time when they come over for a visit.
“It is such a wonderful research study run by amazing people and I am thrilled to continue to be a part of it with my upcoming baby.”
The last ENDIA baby is due to be born on August 1, 2020. The study hopes to continue following all the children at least until they are three years old. You can keep an eye on ENDIA’s emerging results at: http://www.endia.org.au/researcher-resources/ or their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/endiastudy/