Great Lakes Medical Research LLC, a clinical research site and affiliate of Westfield Family Physicians, has been asked to take part in an ACCORD diabetes study.
Great Lakes Medical Research was selected by the National Institute of Health to conduct the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes study. Ten thousand diabetics from the United States and Canada participated in the ACCORD study; with 140 participants enrolled at Great Lakes Medical Research, the only rural site selected in the northeastern United States. The study will create opportunities for more diabetes studies for the community. Great Lakes Medical Research is actively recruiting for several studies sponsored by some of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.
Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing health problems of our time. The incidence of type 2 diabetes and its complications is increasing in the United States. According to recently published New York state health statistics, the prevalence of self-reported diabetes among adults in New York state has increased steadily over the past 11 years. The three-year average has nearly doubled from 4.6 percent in 1996 to 1998 to 8.5 percent in 2007 through 2009. Diabetes is most common in persons over age 60. People with type 2 diabetes often struggle with high blood sugar, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Diabetics are two to four times more likely to suffer from heart disease because of these risk factors.
Great Lakes Medical Research is enrolling eligible participants into diabetes studies. Patients who volunteer to participate in a study may potentially have access to new treatments that are being used to manage diabetes. Other patient benefits include: playing an active role in health care, regular clinical exams, helping others by contributing to medical research and in some trials, compensation for participation.
According to Great Lakes Medical Research officials, Dr. Richard Daines, former state health commissioner, spoke highly of the facility when he learned of the work conducted by the staff. Dr. Daines expressed gratitude for the quality and magnitude of work accomplished by a rural research center located in Western New York. The Great Lakes Medical Research site is staffed with registered nurses, certified clinical research coordinators and physicians who work closely with every research participant. The facility offers a variety of clinical trials including those for diabetes, high blood pressure, gout and osteoarthritis.
Those who think they might qualify for a study and are interested in participating can look at the Type 2 diabetes study advertisement in today's edition of The Post-Journal, call 877-326-4567 or visit www.glmr.info.