Diabetes
Frequently Asked Questions
30. What diabetes clinical trials are currently underway?
Currently, the National Institutes of Health is conducting three clinical trials to find the best strategies to prevent and treat heart disease, the leading complication of diabetes. All three are jointly sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
- Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes). Look AHEAD is the largest clinical trial to date to examine the long-term health effects of voluntary weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers are studying how lifestyle changes such as eating better and getting regular exercise over the long term affect people with diabetes and their risk for heart disease. Preliminary findings from 2010 show intensive lifestyle changes improved diabetes control and lower cardiovascular disease risk in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes.
- ACCORD (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes). The ACCORD study was conducted to examine at various approaches to preventing heart disease and strokes in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Study results reported in 2010 confirmed the importance of individually tailoring diabetes treatment and goals, especially those with cardiovascular or other diseases, severe hypoglycemia, and with long-standing diabetes.
- BARI2D (Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation in Type 2 Diabetics). BARI 2D, a 5-year clinical trial, is comparing various treatment strategies for diabetes and heart disease to prevent early death, heart attack and stroke.
