• We're looking for the total number of 12th grade students currently enrolled in your high school who have Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).

• 8-question survey is for either high school principals or nurses to complete. 

• No personal information about the students, just the # of students that have T1D.  Please use this link: T1D-SURVEY.

• The goals on this webpage explain what we are trying to accomplish with the data obtained by the survey. No additional information is needed. 

According to the most recent CDC poll, approximately 1 in 275 people aged 20 and younger have T1D. 

During our time in high school and working careers, we have observed a much higher ratio, closer to 1 in 38 to 1 in 45. Through this project, we aim to validate or refine these observations.

We use Google Forms to collect responses for the 8 T1D survey questions due to its ease of use. Once submitted, the form generates a dialogue box with a link to a Google Sheets, similar to a Excel file, containing the most up-to-date survey data.

Keep the Google Sheets link for your records if you'd like to view updated T1D survey information from time-to-time.

We will list the 12th grade T1D prevalence rate from our data.

Hopefully, our 12th grade T1D prevalence rate will be similar to the CDC T1D prevalence rate because the fewer people who have T1D, the better. 

Perhaps those of us who have seen much higher T1D rates in our personal lives are seeing T1D prevalence rates outside the normal bell curve. We need to verify and correct our assumptions or the CDC prevalence rate, if necessary.

Informational Note: Chronic conditions like thyroid disease, often associated with T1D, was also more widespread than previously thought. Recent studies in the United Kingdom suggest an occurrence rate as high as 1 in 3 people with T1D will develop thyroid disease.

 The CDC previously stated 1 in 12 people with T1D will develop thyroid disease. This information was the gold standard for decades. 

With the release of the newer UK study, the CDC has amended their literature to state that approximately 1 in 3 with T1D will also develop thyroid disease.

These discrepancies underline the importance of gathering accurate data for public and private policy makers. This project aims to address such gaps in current T1D reporting. 

Once we obtain the prevalence rates of T1D in high school, we're looking to extrapolate T1D prevalence rates for the following age groups: 20 and under; 30 and under; 40 and under; 50 and under. 

Informational Note: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease. Management involves lifelong insulin therapy, monitoring blood sugar levels, and maintaining a balanced diet and exercise regimen. Unlike Type 2 diabetes (T2D), T1D is NOT linked to lifestyle factors and cannot be prevented.

Type 1 diabetes can appear at any age, but it appears at two noticeable peaks. The first peak occurs in children between 4 and 7 years old. The second is in children between 10 and 14 years old.

Historically, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was the leading cause of death in the mid-years of diabetes duration (up to 35 years), accounting for more than half of deaths. Now, Cardiovascular disease accounts for about 50–70% of deaths in people with T1D.

About 20–40% of people with T1D develop retinopathy after living with the condition for 20 years or more.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): People with T1D have a 10x higher risk of CAD compared to the general population.

Stroke: Risk is increased by 3–4 times.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD): Affects 20–30% of people with T1D after several decades.

Heart Failure: Risk is 2–5 times higher than in those without diabetes.

The year-to-year increase in T1D incidence is approximately 3–4% globally, with variations by region and age group.

Health and Safety: Students with T1D require careful blood glucose monitoring, insulin administration, and access to emergency care in case of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Awareness of the prevalence helps schools prepare to address these needs effectively.

Resource Allocation: Schools with a higher prevalence of T1D may need additional resources, such as school nurses, medical supplies, or specialized training for staff to manage diabetes-related issues during school hours.

Education and Awareness: Knowing how many students are affected can guide educational programs for staff, students, and parents to foster a supportive and understanding environment, reduce stigma and improve peer relationships.

Individualized Support Plans: Understanding prevalence can prompt schools to implement 504 plans or Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with T1D, ensuring accommodations like flexible schedules for glucose checks and access to snacks.

Advocacy and Policy Development: Accurate data on T1D prevalence in schools can support advocacy efforts for funding, policy changes, or programs tailored to improve the quality of life for students with diabetes.

Mental and Emotional Well-being: Managing a chronic condition like T1D can be stressful for students. Awareness of prevalence allows schools to prioritize mental health resources and peer support systems.

Informational Note: We are not opposed to optional blood testing, provided it is conducted no sooner than 30 days after the probationary employment period has ended. Additionally, any drug tests conducted during employment must be strictly limited to detecting illegal substances and should not include unrelated health metrics.

We believe that the ADA and GINA Acts were designed to prevent discrimination but have not gone far enough in protecting individuals with T1D and similar conditions. It’s time to address these shortcomings and take meaningful steps to ensure equal opportunities for all.

In addition to more impactful research studies, there are many policy modifications that need to be implemented. 

It is generally illegal to require blood tests for diabetes as part of the hiring process, as this could violate federal anti-discrimination laws, particularly the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).

Many large industrial companies, particularly in the trades, require pre-employment drug tests for new hires. However, these outsourced tests often go beyond screening for illegal drug use. They frequently test for unrelated medical conditions, such as low or high blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and other factors. The results are then provided to a contracted company doctor, who has the authority to recommend whether a candidate should be hired. For individuals with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), this often results in disqualification, effectively barring them from employment with these organizations.

We advocate for drug tests to be strictly limited to detecting illegal substances, as intended. Any misuse of these tests to screen for unrelated health conditions should carry significant penalties, including heavy fines and potential imprisonment for the company’s hiring personnel, the contracted doctor, and the testing laboratory involved. This measure would deter discriminatory practices and uphold the rights of individuals with disabilities.

The abuse of pre-employment drug testing by large public and private entities has been weaponized to discriminate against Americans with disabilities, particularly young people who are especially vulnerable to such biases. We must address this issue by either eliminating these discriminatory practices or ensuring students with disabilities are fully informed about how these barriers could impact their career options.

We want to emphasize this again: we truly hope the CDC’s reported T1D prevalence rates are accurate, as it would mean fewer people are living with T1D than what we’ve observed. That would be fantastic news!

However, if those rates fall short of reality, we are committed to advocating for individuals with T1D to improve their lives through better health policies and employment opportunities.

If it turns out that significantly more people have T1D than currently reported by the CDC, it could pave the way for businesses to recognize the potential for developing profitable, life-changing treatments, ultimately leading to better healthcare options for the T1D community.

Thank you once again for your time and attention!