Diabetes is currently considered the fastest-growing chronic disease in the U.S. The epidemic affects millions of American adults nationwide and is an increasing concern overseas. Diabetes’ debilitating effects, such as vision problems, circulatory issues, nerve damage, kidney damage, reduce the quality of life for its sufferers and ultimately lead to a shortened life span. The grim reality is that diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.
The U.S. healthcare system takes the diabetes epidemic very seriously. The government alone spends over $700 million on diabetes-related research. The private sector, including the leading drug companies, spends millions toward mitigating the effects of diabetes and finding its eventual cure. A major component of this effort are diabetes centers.
A diabetes center is a facility, as you might guess, devoted to the research and treatment of diabetes. There are a number of such facilities located across the U.S., some of which are associated with hospitals and universities. The others, primarily, are privately owned and serve as clinical research facilities for healthcare companies looking to test innovative new treatments, pharmaceutical and otherwise.
If you suffer from diabetes or a pre-diabetic condition, it could be worth your while to see if there is a diabetes center near you. Participation in clinical trials is often free, and by participating you could be aiding the fight against this terrible epidemic. At the very least you could find relief from your symptoms.