Heart Health at Risk? These Research Studies Can Help
People with diabetes often have heart disease. This is because over time high blood sugars can damage blood vessels and some of the nerves that control the heart.
In addition, people with diabetes often have other risk factors for heart disease, like high blood pressure and cholesterol. There is a lot that can be done to decrease the risk of heart disease in those with diabetes, often a mixture of diet, exercise, and medicines.
💓Minimizing Cardiovascular Risks
Iowa Diabetes is conducting many research studies that are looking into the role of medications in minimizing cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke.
A new study that we are coordinating involves a comparison between tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and dulaglutide (Trulicity). In addition to being used for diabetes, Mounjaro and Trulicity have been shown to have some potential cardiovascular benefits. This study is evaluating the role of these two medications in cardiovascular protection and minimizing cardiovascular events. To qualify for this study, you must be at least 40 years of age, have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, and a history of a cardiovascular event. If you have severely uncontrolled diabetes or are unable to take GLP-1 agonists, then you may not be eligible to participate in this study.
💓Patients with High Triglycerides
Triglycerides are one of the most common fats found in the body. When your triglyceride levels are very high, it increases your risk of heart disease. One of our new, up-and-coming studies involves a newly developed drug called pegozafermin. This drug works by mimicking the FGF21 hormone in the body which helps to metabolize and decrease the production of lipids, or fats, in your body. This research study looks at the ability of pegozafermin to decrease triglyceride levels in patients with high triglycerides.
To be eligible for this study, you must be at least 22 years of age and have two triglyceride levels above 500 mg/dL at least seven days apart. You must also be on a stable lipid-lowering therapy such as a statin. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes in the last three months or you have an A1c of > 9.5%, then you are not eligible for this study. Some other exclusionary criteria include type 1 diabetes, history of gallstone disease, or pancreatitis in the last 6 months.
SummaryCardiovascular disease affects millions of people and is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Here at Iowa Diabetes, we are conducting research studies every day to evaluate new medications that could be approved for patients with an increased risk of heart disease.
If you think you may qualify for one of these studies or are interested in other studies that we offer, you can contact us at 515-329-6800.
