SAN ANTONIO (June 22, 2015) – Individuals age 18-70 with and without type 2 diabetes are sought to participate in various studies led by UT Medicine San Antonio physicians Ralph DeFronzo, M.D., and Eugenio Cersosimo, M.D., Ph.D., at the Texas Diabetes Institute and the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. The University Health System’s Texas Diabetes Institute is a world-recognized center of excellence dedicated to the care, prevention, education and research of diabetes.
Clinical research conducted at the Texas Diabetes Institute seeks to determine the initial abnormalities that lead to the conversion from pre-diabetes to type 2 diabetes in high-risk individuals. These are first-degree relatives of patients already diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and overweight subjects.
The clinical research program also has numerous other studies that are investigating novel anti-diabetic drug combinations in individuals with established type 2 diabetes. These anti-diabetic medications can delay the development and progression of common complications, such as eye damage with vision loss, kidney failure leading to dialysis and vascular disease that can lead to limb amputations.
An early start is the best recommended treatment. The studies provide all participants with a complete medical assessment, dietary and exercise counseling, diabetes education, devices for self-monitoring, and medications with no “out-of-pocket” expenses.
Professors DeFronzo and Cersosimo are world-renowned clinical scientists, superb educators and caring physicians. The Diabetes Clinic and the Clinical Research Center are located at the Texas Diabetes Institute, a satellite of the University Health System where all study visits take place. Expert physicians, specialized nurses and a team of highly qualified health care providers welcome patients with a friendly attitude and will make sure patients have an outstanding experience.
Study volunteers may have recently diagnosed type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes, have long-standing diabetes, and be either male or female. Patients with diabetes who are taking insulin injections are excluded. If selected to participate in one of the studies, individuals will receive blood work, a physical exam and compensation for their time.
To inquiry about study eligibility, call 210-358-7200. Prospective participants may also visit Texas Diabetes Institute to obtain more information and contact the team. Some studies may recruit healthy, non-diabetic volunteers.
Studies are funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and by the American Diabetes Association.
UT Medicine San Antonio is the clinical practice of the School of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. With more than 700 doctors – all School of Medicine faculty – UT Medicine is the largest medical practice in Central and South Texas. Expertise is in more than 100 medical specialties and subspecialties. Primary care doctors and specialists see patients in private practice at UT Medicine’s flagship clinical home, the Medical Arts & Research Center (MARC), located at 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio 78229. Most major health plans are accepted, and UT Medicine physicians also practice at several local and regional hospitals. Call (210) 450-9000 to schedule an appointment, or visit UTMedicine.org for a list of clinics and phone numbers.
University Health System is a nationally recognized teaching hospital and comprehensive network of outpatient healthcare centers, owned by the people of Bexar County, and ranked best in the San Antonio region by U.S. News & World Report. University Health System is committed to delivering patient-centered, culturally competent and high quality healthcare for adults and children, based on a strong foundation of outcomes‐based research and innovative teaching. Learn more at UniversityHealthSystem.com.