Clinical trials are biomedical or health-related research studies on human beings. Being in a clinical trial for diabetes – or any other health-related issue – has advantages and disadvantages, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). It’s important to talk to your physician, family members and others to help you make a firm decision before participating.
What are the advantages of participating in a clinical trial?
You’ll probably be examined more often than usual. This could lead to problems being found earlier than they otherwise might have been.
You’ll probably have access to some of the best health care teams and facilities in the country.
You may have the chance to test new therapies for diabetes. These could be very helpful in negating some of your physical problems with diabetes – or other trials and would be available to you much sooner.
What are the disadvantages?
You might be given a placebo, or a dummy pill, with no real medication. This is how clinical trials work, with some participants being given new medications and others (the “control group”) being given “fake” medication to see if they react differently. The upside is that some patients get better even when they receive a dummy pill. This is called a placebo effect.
Trial medications may have unknown side effects that aren’t discovered until patients like you try the medications.
It may take up too much of your time. You may have to travel to the study site, stay at the hospital longer, or spend more time learning dosage procedures than you’re willing to donate.
The most important thing to remember before participating in any clinical trial is to read the consent form very carefully and ask questions, says the ADA. If you don’t understand it fully, bring the consent form home and go over it with a relative or friend. Understand the consent before you sign it.
Reprinted from 101 Tips for Simplifying Diabetes by the University of New Mexico Diabetes Care Team.
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