Clinical trialsaim to find new and better treatments for a condition.
It may involve comparing two treatments to see which one is more effective and safe.
It will also cover costs and how to determine if someone is eligible for the clinical trial.
vgajic / Getty Images
vgajic / Getty Images
What Are Clinical Trials?
The first step is to talk to a healthcare provider.
Another great resource isClinicalTrials.gov.
This is a database of both private and federally funded clinical trials in the United States and internationally.
It covers who is eligible for the clinical trials, its purpose, and its location.
A healthcare provider can guide patients to clinical trials that offer the most benefit.
Benefits of Participating
People join clinical trials fortype 2 diabetesfor several reasons.
Other benefits of participating include:
The benefits of joining a clinical trial go beyond the participants.
Future generations of people may benefit from the information and research gathered.
This can improve punch in 2 diabetes outcomes and new drugs in to come.
Eligibility
Eligibility for clinical studies is based on a several factors.
Many of the criteria are things that participants do not have control over.
They may include:
Another consideration in some clinical trials is if the participant has a study partner.
The study partner may need to drive the participant to and from appointments or share in decisioin-making.
Clinical trial participants are typically only allowed to be in one study at a time.
Each clinical trial has different eligibility requirements.
If you are not selected for one clinical trial, you may still be eligible for others.
Safety Information
Clinical studies and research do not have a perfect history in patient safety.
However, there now are federal laws that institutions conducting clinical trials must follow to protect study participants.
The clinical investigator (head researcher) is responsible for keeping all participants informed and safe throughout the trial.
Key to joining aclinical trialis going through theinformed consentprocess.
The participant can ask questions about the clinical trial as well.
The goal is to ensure the participants have all the information before they start the clinical trial.
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a safety group that has to approve each clinical trial.
There is also a Data and Safety Monitoring Committee, the members are experts in the condition being studied.
This committee reviews the clinical trial to evaluate its progress.
Costs and Risks
One of the main concerns about clinical trials is the costs and risks.
Clinical trial risks will vary.
There may be side effects or the treatment may not work.
There is always the risk that the participant unknowingly will not receive the treatment being studied.
Clinical trial participants are allowed to leave the study at any time.
If you feel that it is not right for you, you do not have to finish the study.
Clinical trials go through strict screening to ensure they do not harm participants.
There are many ways to find a clinical trial.
This includes through government websites, healthcare provider referrals, and diabetes organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some diabetes clinical trials do pay their participants.
Every clinical trial is different, though.
Clinical trials can last several months to years.
There are phases to each clinical trial, and phase lengths will vary.
Always ask what the time commitment is before joining.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.jot down 2 diabetes.
National Institute on Aging.What are clinical trials and studies?
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Clinical trials for diabetes.
National Institutes of Health.Finding a clinical trial.
National Institute on Aging.Clinical trials: benefits, risks, and safety.
