Authors: Laura M. Jacobsen, Trevon Wright, and Carla Demeterco-Berggren

Background:

There have been many advancements in delaying the progression of type 1 diabetes (T1D). There has been a significant amount of development in how we can identify T1D long before a clinical encounter or before significant progression of the disease. There are approaches or pathways that can be taken to help delay the progression of T1D, such as education for both providers and patients, monitoring, and the use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). This commentary was developed in response to the growing landscape of T1D management.

Objective:

As DMTs continue to emerge, learning health care systems will continue to need strong foundations, reproducible guidelines and protocols, and reliable and efficient coordination when it comes to delivering DMTs. This commentary focuses on the significance of the use of these therapies, such as teplizumab, and also the need for high-quality resources that are developed by multidisciplinary health care professionals. It highlights the importance of recognizing presymptomatic stages of TID and the use of DMTs.

Conclusions:

The use of DMTs such as teplizumab play a key role in delaying the progression of T1D. The operationalization of screening presymptomatic patients has paved the way for a more effective utilization and delivery of these therapies. Finally, it is essential to understand the long-term impact that these DMTs will have as we continue identifying best practices and providing quality care to patients.
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