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Type 2 Strange Clinical Trial Request?

Hampshire_Lad

Well-Known Member
Messages
49
Hi,
I have Type 2 diabetes and am currently avoiding taking meds or injecting insulin by a LCHF diet and a lot of exercise.
I'm on the cusp of having to take tablets however.

I had a letter from my Doctor last week asking me to visit an external company to have a BS blood test as they were interested in using me on a new clinical trial for type 2 sufferers.

So today i drove there and had my blood tested.
I asked the Doctor what the trial involved, and she said it involved a new treatment involving a once a week insulin injection, with the aim being to allow diabetics not to have to inject 2 or 3 times a day as many currently do.

I was a tad confused as I dont even take tablets yet, but she said the downward slide to taking insulin will eventually catch up with every type 2 sufferer, so this would be a shortcut to dealing with that.

I am very perplexed by this. Obviously I dont have to do the trial, but can anyone see the logic in injecting insulin before its actually required, even if it is just once a week?
Thanks
 
This is just my own personal opinion and does not reflect judgement of any kind. I would refuse insulin treatment unless it could be proved that I was not hyperinsulinaemic. As to whether or not to take insulin before drug therapy I would be inclined to try the drugs first but, again, this would be my personal choice.
 
I am all for helping research, however injecting insulin when you’re not even on oral meds makes no sense to me at all!
I can’t believe money and effort are being put into researching insulin rather than looking at the effectiveness of more conservative ‘treatments’ such as diet.
 

Hampshire_Lad - Either your GP, or the Doc you saw today should be able to give you study/trial documents explaining things to you. Do you know the name of the study or trial? Were your tests at a hospital or research centre?
 
DCUKMod said:
Hampshire_Lad - Either your GP, or the Doc you saw today should be able to give you study/trial documents explaining things to you. Do you know the name of the study or trial? Were your tests at a hospital or research centre?
Click to expand...

Hi,
I assume they will give me study trial documents if my test results warrant my inclusion in the trial, but as you suggest, I should have gotten a better explanation really
The tests were carried out at the Synexus research clinic in Reading - link here
 
Just had a look at the clinical trials register (which admittedly is so incomplete it's a joke), but couldn't find anything remotely fitting that description. If they have taken blood from you, associated with a clinical trial, even if you end up not being admitted they really should have given you the Patient Information Sheet, Consent Form, and Study Information Sheet - if they didn't that's a big no no.

Not suggesting that it isn't perfectly legitimate - only a tiny number of trials are actually registered properly, it's one of Dr Ben Goldacre's big bugbears - but I would be slightly concerned about the lack of information and organisation
 
They want to use you as a guinea pig, of course your choice, but in my view insulin for a Type 2 is the last resort.
 
Before doing anything I would go back to your GP and find out exactly why he has suggested you get involved with the trial when you aren’t even taking tablets yet. If you don’t want to be part of the trial refuse their offer. I appreciate that there seems to be a widespread perception among many in the medical profession that diabetes is a progressive disease and for some it is but, as you can see from many of the posts on this forum alone, that is not always the case. Being cynical I wonder if there is any finance involved.
 
I wonder (pure, pure speculation) if it's something like Bydureon, rather than insulin.

I know there's a lot of work going on to look at some of the additional impacts of the GLP-1 group of meds.

Of course, that doesn't help you @Hampshire_Lad .

When you say you're on the cusp of taking tablets, is that because you're finding diet and exercise isn't working so well for you these days?
 
Well, I have spoken to my Doctor and she said I was suggested for the trial because I am struggling with keeping my BS levels under control with diet and exercise.
That isn't strictly true as whilst my levels are admittedly high (averaging 8.5 during the week) I feel I'm nowhere near having to take insulin
So thankyou for your advice and based on that I've decided that if I am offered a place on the trial I will decline it
 

Is the trial actually for insulin, or another injectable drug?
 
Hampshire_Lad,

I'd definitely not try anything experimental especially as from what I can read, they just want to turn you into a pin cushion, I'd be wanting to do some tried and tested drugs first (as your readings don't sound that bad, whilst not on meds) and good effort mate for doing exercising and LCHF diet, everything is worth a try. But I would not inject until I really really had to.

I'm about to raise an item on what I've just gone thru.
 
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