May 22, 2019
Māori needed for diabetes drug study
University of Auckland researchers are keen for Māori and Pacific people to be part of trialling a ‘precision medicine’ approach to diabetes treatment.
Endocrinologist Rinki Murphy from the university’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences says knowing who responds best to each type of diabetes drug would help patients to get more effective medication earlier in their treatment, with fewer negative side effects, and improved health outcomes.
It could also save money by removing redundant drugs from people’s ever-growing medication cocktails.
She’s leading a study to identify which personal factors predict people’s response to two different diabetes drugs: vildagliptin and pioglitazone.
The study will need 300 people aged 18-80 years with type 2 diabetes who are currently treated with metformin and/or sulfonylurea medications, but still require extra diabetes medication.
Dr Murphy says she is particularly interested in whether the response is different among people of Māori and Pacific ancestry, because they are not represented in the international clinical trials evaluating these diabetes medications.
People interested in joining the study can email t2dmed@auckland.ac.nz or find out more information on the study page.
Copyright © 2019, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com