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Diabetes studies need volunteers
By Jim Dryden November is National Diabetes Month. And School of Medicine researchers are seeking volunteers to participate in studies investigating strategies to prevent diabetes. They also are conducting treatment studies and other clinical research hoping to prevent or delay the complications of the disease. "Recent research studies have shown it is possible to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes," said Janet B. McGill, M.D., associate professor of medicine and principal investigator of these clinical studies. "The focus of our current efforts involves identifying people who are completely asymptomatic and have no reason to believe they have diabetes." Approximately 17 million people in the United States have diabetes, but only about 11 million actually have been diagnosed with the disease. Another 16 million have a condition called pre-diabetes, meaning they are at risk for developing diabetes, but their bloodsugar levels are still close to normal. Some people fall into a high-risk group because they have a condition called impaired glucose tolerance and the only way to diagnose this condition is with a glucose-tolerance test. As part of their effort to recruit study volunteers, researchers are offering free glucose-tolerance tests to anyone over 30 who is concerned about their risk for diabetes. If a person has impaired glucose tolerance, they will be informed about the benefits of exercise and lifestyle changes and offered a chance to participate in a study that couples lifestyle changes with study medications. In one of the trials, patients over 30 with impaired glucose tolerance will be randomly assigned to take either investigational medication or an inactive placebo. They will be monitored every six months for up to five years to see whether the combination of medication and lifestyle changes can prevent type 2 diabetes. McGill and colleagues also are recruiting volunteers for other studies -- both patients at risk for diabetes and those who already have the disease. All screening tests and research-related procedures for these studies are free; some studies offer a cash stipend. For more information, call Volunteer for Health at 362-1000. |
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