Clinical Research at Mountain Diabetes & Endocrine Center

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Dr. Frederick Banting (right) and his assistant Charles Best (left) with one of the diabetic dogs used in the first experiments that led to the discovery of insulin.
Our commitment to clinical research

Mountain Diabetes & Endocrine Center is committed to, and passionate about, offering the best medical care in western North Carolina. We are proud to offer our patients the opportunity to receive the newest and most advanced treatments that are not yet available to the public by participating in clinical research. In this way, our doctors stay on the cutting edge of diabetes treatments and are familiar with many medications and devices even before they're available.  

What is a clinical trial?

A clinical trial is a research study on human participants to answer specific questions about a new drug or device.  

For our practice, this most often means determining the efficacy and tolerability of new insulin, new ways to use an insulin that is already available (e.g. using it in an insulin pump), a new combination of anti-diabetic medications, or, in some cases, a completely new kind of medication that is the only one in its class.

Clinical trials have different phases ranging from 0 - 4. The trial phase depends on how far along the medication or device is in development and on how many people will be participating in the trial. Our practice primarily participates in phase 3 and phase 4 trials.
 
Why participate?

For people living with diabetes, managing their disease is a daily challenge. Participation in clinical trials helps our patients try promising new treatments under the close supervision of expert clinicians at no charge. Many people feel that they receive more education and attention to their diabetes by participating in one of our trials. In addition to medical care, patients can expect to receive testing supplies (e.g. test strips) and study-related medication at no charge. Patients are also compensated financially for their participation. Many times our patients express pride and gratitude in knowing that they helped our doctors bring the best treatments to the public.