Chances are, you or someone you know is suffering with diabetes.
More than 24 million people have type 2 diabetes in the U.S. and these cases can lead to blindness, amputations, even death.
Now, a local study is looking for people struggling with this disease.
Fourteen years ago today, Lisa Branson's mother died.
"I mean I was always heavy,” she said, “But that's when it got bad."
Now, Branson has type 2 diabetes.
She says it was combination of fast food, stress and very little exercise that led her to a life of pills and injections and doctor's appointments.
The 44 year old is now enrolled in a diabetes study at the University of Colorado Hospital.
In this clinical trial, doctors are trying to identify which of four FDA-approved medications work the best for people with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes who are taking the medication Metformin.
"The goal is to enroll around 5,000 patients nationwide,” said Dr. Neda Rasouli, an endocrinologist at the University of Colorado Hospital, “And we are more than halfway done."
They still need about 200 Coloradans to join the study.
Branson has been enrolled in the study for about a year and says the combination of medication, healthy eating and daily exercise has helped her drop nearly 60 pounds.
She says she only wishes her friends and family would listen to her before it's too late.
If you have type 2 diabetes, were diagnosed less than 10 years ago and are at least 30 years old you could be eligible.
Interested patients can contact study coordinator Stephanie Steiner at 720-848-6473 or the research Physician Assistant at chelsea.baker@ucdenver.edu.
You can also find additional information on the study website: http://gradestudy.com/. You can learn more about our research team at www.ucdenver.edu/cudect.
Reporter Kristen Skovira is a Colorado native and a Chapman University alum. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
