Many of you may already be aware of this, but a few weeks ago, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation launched a great new site — a searchable database of ongoing research trials. Called the Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Trials Connection, it’s a one-stop shop for everything going on in the type 1 research world. You can search by location so that you don’t end up wading through trials in Omaha when you live in Los Angeles. And better yet, once you set up your search preferences, you can have a list of relevant trials automatically emailed to you, so that you don’t have to remember to keep checking.
Just this morning I found ways to participate in trials for closed loop systems, inhaled insulin and even islet cell transplants. I can say from personal experience that participating in a trial is a great way to feel proactive — you feel like you’re being active about your own treatment, and you’re also helping to advance research that could change people’s lives. It also helps you meet doctors and researchers at the forefront of the field. And even if you don’t decide to participate in anything yourself, reading through the list is a nice reminder that there are people out there trying to find a cure.
