Diabetes affects over 37 million Americans and occurs when the body can't properly regulate blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition requiring insulin, while Type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance and is often managed with lifestyle changes and medication. Current treatments include insulin, metformin, GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide, and SGLT2 inhibitors.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing once-weekly insulin formulations, dual and triple incretin receptor agonists for weight loss and glucose control, automated insulin delivery systems that adjust doses in real time, and stem cell therapies to replace insulin-producing cells in Type 1 diabetes. Researchers are also studying ways to prevent Type 1 diabetes in people at high genetic risk and new approaches to diabetic complications like kidney disease and neuropathy.
Cell replacement therapies
Studies are testing stem cell-derived insulin-producing cells, some protected in implantable devices to avoid immune rejection. Early results show some people producing their own insulin again after transplant.
Multi-receptor incretins
New drugs activate multiple hormone receptors at once, producing greater weight loss and glucose control than single-target drugs. Tirzepatide, which targets both GIP and GLP-1 receptors, was approved in 2022 for Type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 prevention
Teplizumab delays Type 1 diabetes onset by an average of two years in high-risk individuals. Researchers are testing whether other immune-modulating drugs can prevent or halt the autoimmune attack on insulin-producing cells.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on diabetes type, hemoglobin A1c level, body weight, kidney function, previous medications, and presence of complications.
What types of trials are currently open
- Glucose control trials — Testing new medications or insulin formulations to see how well they lower blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c levels.
- Weight management trials — Studies of GLP-1 agonists and newer drugs that combine glucose control with significant weight loss.
- Technology trials — Testing continuous glucose monitors, automated insulin pumps, and closed-loop systems that adjust insulin delivery automatically.
- Complication prevention trials — Evaluating treatments to prevent or slow diabetic kidney disease, nerve damage, eye disease, and cardiovascular problems.
- Prevention trials — Studies testing whether drugs can delay or prevent Type 1 diabetes in people with high genetic risk or early immune markers.
Recently added Diabetes Mellitus trials
Take a weekly injection to test a new diabetes treatment
This study is being conducted to find out how well zenagamtide works and how safe it is compared to insulin glargine in participants with type 2 diabetes who are at higher risk of heart and blood vessel problems and are already taking 1 to 3 diabetes medications. There are 2 study treatments in this study taken as injections under the skin once a week. Participants will either get zenagamtide, (the treatment being tested) or insulin glargine (a comparator) and which treatment participants get is decided by chance.
Try cooking classes with nutrition education videos
The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the potential benefits of integrating a video covering topics related to nutrition education, food literacy and type 2 diabetes into Seva Food Banks current programs (Culinary Training for Youth, Culinary Training for Newcomers, Cooking Classes for Seniors), to learn if integrating this video can reduce risk of type 2 diabetes by improving diet quality, nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among participants of the programs. The main question it aims to answer is: How does the integration of a nutrition education video covering topics related to food literacy and type 2 diabetes within Seva Food Bank's Culinary Training programs for youth, newcomers, and seniors influence participants' diet quality, nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors? Participants will: * Complete a baseline questionnaire before watching the educational video * Watch the nutrition education video * Complete a questionnaire at 2-weeks and again 1-month post-intervention to assess sustained effects and maintenance.
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