The field of diabetes research continues to grow at a rapid and exciting pace. The diabetes team at Johns Hopkins is committed to finding and developing methods to help people live a full and healthy life with diabetes. Over the past 20 years, we have conducted research in a number of important areas, including glucose monitoring, hemoglobin A1c, and diabetes technologies such as continuous glucose monitoring and implantable insulin pump therapy. All of these efforts are made possible with the help of volunteers, who by participating in these studies help us answer important questions about diabetes. Below is a list of the current research taking place at the Diabetes Center. If you would like to participate in one of our studies, please contact our Research Coordinator Alicia Greene (410) 955-2812 for more information.
Studies
Comparison of Hemoglobin A1c and Blood Glucose Levels
O-GlcNAc: Assessment of Glycemia
Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study
Comparison of Hemoglobin A1c and Mean Blood Glucose Levels in type 1 and 2 diabetic patients in stable glycaemic control and in healthy subjects: Redefining long term glycaemic control
Sponsor: American Diabetes Association and General Clinical Research Center
Qualifications:Between 18 and 70 years of age. Type 1, Type 2, and non diabetics accepted. Must have stable A1c level.
The comparison study is an international study organized by the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes study. Seventeen centers world wide are participating in the study, including 12 in the US. The aim of the study is to find out how the Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measurement relates to blood glucose (sugar). The relationship between HbA1c and blood glucose will be tested in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and in healthy non-diabetic volunteers. Participants will have their blood glucose monitored over a 16 week period using self monitoring of blood glucose and continuous blood glucose monitoring. The glucose measurements will be compared with the HbA1c, measured every 4 weeks. Approximately 60 people are expected to take part in this study at Johns Hopkins. All visits are free, including parking, and qualified participants are eligible for additional compensation.
Reimplantation of Subjects with Implantable Insulin Pump Therapy
Sponsor: NIH and General Clinical Research Center
Qualifications: Type 1 diabetic previously implanted with the Mini Med Implantable Pump (MIP) model 2000 at Johns Hopkins.
Implantable insulin pump therapy (IIP) is a specific method of insulin delivery. It requires a surgical procedure to place an insulin pump into the fat tissue of the wall of the abdomen and a catheter that runs from the pump into the peritoneal cavity (Space around the gut). Insulin is delivered from the pump, via the catheter, into the peritoneal cavity. This allows a more natural method if insulin absorption than can be achieved by injecting insulin into the fat tissue below the skin of the abdomen, buttocks or thigh.
This research is being done to find out whether subjects previously treated with IIP therapy, and now taking insulin by injection, will benefit from re-implantation of IIP. We will see if IIP causes more stable control of blood sugar, with better average glucose measurements and fewer high and low readings. People with type 1 diabetes previously implanted with the Mini Med Implantable Pump (MIP) model 2000 at Johns Hopkins may join this study. Up to 15 subjects are expected to participate.
O-GlcNAc: Developing a New Tool for the Assessment of Glycemia
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health
Qualifications: Study is open to all individuals.
This research is being done to help improve our understanding of a chemical that naturally occurs in the body called O-GlcNAc. The chemical appears to respond to changes in blood sugar in a similar fashion to HbA1c. We will find out whether O-GlcNAc is useful in measuring diabetic control or other aspects of the diabetic state. Up to 50 people with diabetes or without diabetes may join. All visits are free, including parking.
Evaluation of glycaemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus and end stage renal disease using continuous glucose monitoring.
Sponsor: General Clinical Research Center and National Kidney Foundation of Maryland
Qualification: Diabetes and end stage renal failure on dialysis.
Diabetes is extremely common in patients with kidney failure, affecting over 50% of patients on dialysis. A number of studies have shown that in patients with kidney failure, good glucose control may help improve outcome. Unfortunately, the presence of kidney failure makes the challenge of managing diabetes even greater. The purpose of this study is to improve our understanding of glucose control in patients with renal failure and to see if close monitoring of blood glucose can lead to safe improvement in diabetes control in patients with kidney failure. .We plan to monitor blood glucose using self monitoring of blood glucose and continuous blood glucose monitoring. After the initial period of glucose monitoring, We will attempt to improve diabetes control using the glucose data that has been gathered. All visits are free, including parking.
The Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS)
Sponsors: NIH/NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Qualifications: No new patients are being enrolled in this study
Person to Contact: Tracy Whittington Phone: (410) 281-2990
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) was a research study aimed at discovering whether diet/exercise or the oral diabetes medication Metformin (Glucophage) could prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in people with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or pre-diabetes. This study was conducted in many centers across North America, Dr. Saudek is the principal investigator for the Johns Hopkins site.
The DPP found that over the 3 years of the study, diet and exercise sharply reduced the chances that a person with IGT would develop diabetes, in fact by 58%. Metformin also reduced the risk by 31%. The DPP research findings are published in the New England Journal of Medicine February 7, 2002 issue. If you are interested in more information about this study please contact Tracy Whittington at (410) 281-2990.
National Diabetes Education Program
If you are interested in Johns Hopkins Department of Endocrinology research click Here
If you are interested in Dr. Golden's research click Here
If you are interested in Dr. Clark's research click Here
If you are interested in Johns Hopkins Bayview research please click Here
If you are interested in NIH research through NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease) please click Here.
If you are interested in the ADA's (AmericanDiabetesAssociation) research Page click Here, or if you are interested in their Research Database click Here.
If you are interested in JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) research page please click Here
If you are interested in Johns Hopkins Hospital general research page please click Here.
