The Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes regularly conducts clinical trials, and we invite participants to join our studies. If you are considering becoming a participant, you can find more information on our what you should know about research studies page. 
 

We are currently recruiting participants for the following studies:

1. Do you have Type 2 Diabetes with circulation problems, heart disease, or kidney problems?

Dr. Bernard Zinman at the Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes is conducting research studies evaluating several diabetes medications in cardiovascular disease.

For more information and eligibility requirements, please contact Stella skink@mtsinai.on.ca or Paula pvannostrand@mtsinai.on.ca or call 416-586-8775.
 
 
2. Have you had Type 2 Diabetes for less than 7 years? 

Help us see if we can protect the cells in the body that produce insulin, thus slowing the progression of diabetes, by joining our research study.

You may be eligible if you:

• have had Type 2 diabetes for 0-7 years;
• take 0-2 pill(s) for diabetes;
• are between the ages of 30-75 years;
• are willing to come for 8 clinic and 9 phone visits over 13 months.

Principal investigators: Dr. Bernard Zinman & Dr. Ravi Retnakaran 

For more information please call Haysook Choi, Research Nurse at 416-586-8778 or hchoi@mtsinai.on.ca. 
 

  
3. GAP Study

In this study, the levels of certain proteins or markers in the blood related to diabetes are being studied in both women with diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) and those without diabetes during pregnancy. Participants' markers and their relationships with blood sugar levels are then being assessed at roughly 3 months and 1 year after pregnancy.

So far, this study has shown that:

1. One of the markers may be related to how well the body produces insulin (the substance made by the body to control blood sugar levels);
2.  The production of insulin is influenced by how well the insulin works in the body;
3. A woman’s ethnic background plays a role in how her weight affects the function of insulin during pregnancy;
4. The timing of a single high value on the oral glucose tolerance test in pregnancy may be related to how well your body’s insulin works when you are pregnant.

This study is giving us important information into factors that may cause diabetes, a disease of epidemic proportions in our society.

If you’d like to read more about these results, you can find more information in the articles listed below.

• Retnakaran R , AJ Hanley, N Raif, CR Hirning, PW Connelly, M Sermer, SE Kahn, B Zinman. Adiponectin and b -cell dysfunction in gestational diabetes: pathophysiologic implications. Diabetologia 2005; (182 KB pdf )   48(5):993-1001. 
• Retnakaran R, AJ Hanley, M Sermer, B Zinman. The impact of insulin resistance on proinsulin secretion in pregnancy: hyperproinsulinemia is not a feature of gestational diabetes. (138 KB pdf )  Diabetes Care 2005; 28:2710-2715. 
• Retnakaran R, AJ Hanley, PW Connelly, M Sermer, B Zinman. Ethnicity modifies the impact of obesity on insulin resistance in pregnancy: a comparison of Asian, South Asian and Caucasian women. (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2005, in press)