Testing finger-prick blood tests instead of traditional glucose tolerance tests

This trial is testing a new way to diagnose or monitor diabetes in children and young people. Instead of the traditional glucose tolerance test—which requires a needle inserted into a vein and blood samples taken over 2–3 hours in a hospital—researchers want to see if a simple finger-prick blood test done at home works just as well. The study will also explore whether a continuous glucose monitor (a small device that reads blood sugar through the skin) could be another helpful alternative.

The standard glucose tolerance test is often uncomfortable and inconvenient for young people because it requires a long visit to a healthcare setting with repeated needle pricks. Finding a simpler, more tolerable way to test for diabetes early could help more children get diagnosed and treated before symptoms develop, which can delay or even prevent the disease from progressing.