Diabetes affects how your body uses glucose, the sugar that fuels your cells. Over 37 million Americans have diabetes — about 90% have type 2, which develops over time, while type 1 is autoimmune and typically starts in childhood. Treatment has expanded beyond insulin and metformin to include GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide, SGLT2 inhibitors, and closed-loop insulin systems that adjust dosing automatically.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing drugs that preserve insulin-producing beta cells in new-onset type 1 diabetes, longer-acting GLP-1 drugs for type 2, artificial pancreas systems with fewer finger sticks, and stem cell approaches to replace lost beta cells. Researchers are also studying ways to predict who will develop diabetes and whether early intervention can prevent it.
Beta cell preservation
Teplizumab won FDA approval in 2022 to delay type 1 diabetes in high-risk people, the first drug shown to alter the disease course. Trials are testing similar immunotherapies in newly diagnosed patients to save remaining beta cells.
Stem cell therapies
Researchers are transplanting lab-grown insulin-producing cells into people with type 1 diabetes. Early results show some patients making their own insulin again, though immune rejection remains a challenge.
Automated insulin delivery
Closed-loop systems that link continuous glucose monitors to insulin pumps are becoming more sophisticated, with some now FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes. Trials are testing fully automated systems that require less user input.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on diabetes type, how long you've had it, your current treatment, A1C level, and presence of complications.
What types of trials are currently open
- Prevention trials — Testing whether drugs or lifestyle changes can prevent diabetes in people at high risk, or delay type 1 in those with early immune markers.
- Beta cell trials — Testing immunotherapies and other drugs to preserve or restore insulin production in type 1 diabetes.
- Device trials — Testing new continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, and closed-loop systems that automate insulin delivery.
- Medication trials — Testing new drugs to lower blood sugar, protect against complications, or help with weight loss in type 2 diabetes.
- Complication trials — Testing treatments for diabetic nerve damage, kidney disease, eye damage, and heart problems.
Recently added Diabetes Mellitus trials
Protective Effect of Lactation Against Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Subsequent Pregnancies: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disorder of pregnancy associated with increased maternal and fetal morbidity. Lactation has been suggested to improve maternal glucose metabolism, enhance insulin sensitivity, and reduce the risk of future glucose intolerance. However, evidence regarding the protective effect of lactation on the development of GDM in subsequent pregnancies remains limited. This prospective observational cohort study aims to evaluate the association between lactation and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus and related pregnancy complications in women who conceive during the lactation period. Routine glycemic markers including fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, glycosuria, and 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results will be recorded. Ultrasonographic findings including fetal abdominal circumference percentile, estimated fetal weight percentile, and amniotic fluid index will also be assessed. The study will investigate whether lactation is associated with a reduced risk of GDM, fetal macrosomia, and polyhydramnios in subsequent pregnancies.
Genetic Risk Score of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus for Progression to Insulin in Diabetic Patients Lack of Predictive Value: a Multicenter Nested Case-control Study
The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the predictive value of the genetic risk score for type 1 diabetes in the progression to insulin deficiency in diabetic patients. The main question it aims to answer is: 1. To investigate the predictive efficacy of the genetic risk score for T1DM in determining whether diabetic patients will progress to insulin deficiency; 2. To compare the differences in genetic characteristics between the insulin-deficient cohort and the non-insulin-deficient cohort. This study is a nested case-control study, in which a case group and a control group are set up for the collection of observational indicators. Case group: Diabetic patients who "progressed to insulin deficiency" and those who "progressed to severe insulin deficiency". Control group: Patients who did not progress to insulin deficiency. The study period is 3 years.
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