Diabetes affects between one-fifth and one-fourth of the Veteran population, its incidence increases with advancing age, and it can cause a near doubling in a person’s risk for heart disease, nerve damage, loss of eyesight and other serious medical complications.
Diabetes research at VANJHCS encompasses multi-center, national and international clinical trials involving testing of new medications to treat diabetes. Current studies provide important information about the effect of glucose-lowering or blood-pressure lowering on the progression of cardiovascular or kidney complications in adult-onset diabetes.
In addition, one focus of our diabetes research has been understanding biological mechanisms responsible for the clustering of specific diabetic complications in the same patient. For example, why do patients suffering with kidney problems frequently also suffer with eye disease, heart problems or mental health issues? Is there a single cause for the clustering of these particular complications?