Written by Meredith Coors – T1D Mom and JDRF Mountain West Chapter’s Clinical Trial Education Volunteer

Clinical trials save lives – and you can get involved in this important research.

Your T1D diagnosis might have made you feel helpless – or motivated to get involved right away. Regardless of how long it’s been since your initial diagnosis, you may be wondering how you can help improve the lives of people with T1D and help find better treatments and a cure.

As you already know, JDRF is the world’s largest nonprofit funder of type 1 diabetes research. Focused on finding a cure for T1D, and accelerating advancements to improve the lives of those living with the disease, JDRF is funding clinical research and trials in labs around the world through a networked collection of scientists who toil to solve the same multi-dimensional puzzle.

But these scientists need clinical trial participants to better understand potential cures and treatments that will impact everyone who lives with T1D.

There are several types of clinical research and each involves different levels of commitment. Some research is done remotely through patient surveys, while drug and device trials require regular visits with the research team or even a stay in the hospital. Trial participants are usually compensated based on level of difficulty and commitment, and trial participation information is kept confidential.

Visit JDRF’s clinical trials page to learn more about clinical research. To find out if you’re a match, you can visit JDRF’s clinical trial site and answer a few easy questions.

The Mountain West Chapter is home to many ongoing trials that need participants. Please consider taking part and helping accelerate T1D research!