Search For Diabetes in Youth
Search For Diabetes in Youth
A multi-center study of Diabetes in children and youth

Diabetes is a major health concern affecting about 16 million Americans. The SEARCH study will investigate diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, as these disease rates are increasing each year in children and youth.

Who can join?

Children and youth who are under age 20 when they were diagnosed with diabetes may be eligible to join. Beginning in 2002 through 2007, it is expected that about 9000 children and youth who have diabetes may be invited to participate in this study. Eligibility may depend on the place your child resides or the place your child receives his or her health care. Please contact your nearest SEARCH site to see about qualifying for SEARCH or to get more information about SEARCH.

What will happen?

If selected as a possible SEARCH participant, we will contact you or your child to find out if he or she is actually eligible for the study. We will ask questions about your child's health and medical conditions. If your child is eligible for the study, your child will be invited to a SEARCH center where he or she will undergo special tests and interviews. SEARCH uses modern techniques for the tests and interviewing.

These free tests and procedures include:

How will my child benefit?

We will send you or your child (and your child's doctor, if you wish) results from your child's medical tests that might be valuable to his or her health. All these results will be provided free of charge. A small gift will be provided for your time and effort for coming in to the SEARCH visit and for completing a mailed questionnaire.

Why is it important that my child participate in SEARCH?

If your child is invited to participate in SEARCH and decides to join the study, your child will be contributing to medical knowledge on diabetes. Medical knowledge can only advance if people like you are willing to participate in studies to advance our understanding of diabetes.

How long will it take?

A survey may be mailed to you or your child to be completed, and this may take about 20 minutes to complete. Soon afterwards, your child will have a visit to the SEARCH center for a physical exam and for a few questionnaires to be answered. This visit is usually done in the morning and may take about 2 hours. We will gladly work around your schedule.

What happens after that?

After your child's visit, we will contact you or your child in approximately one year to check on your child's health status.

Informed Consent

Permission is required to be obtained from you or your child in order to be in the study and to have procedures performed. A copy of the informed consent will be provided to you or your child to sign and a copy will be kept at the SEARCH center. Informed consent involves explaining the study purpose, how long the study will last, study procedures that will be done, any possible risks or discomforts that maybe experienced, study benefits to you or others, confidentiality issues, storage of records that would identify your or your child, who to contact if there are questions, and an explanation that study participation is voluntary and you may discontinue the study at any time without penalty or loss of benefits.

Is the information confidential?

Yes, all the information given by SEARCH participants is held in strict confidence and will be used for statistical research purposes only. The information you provide will never be associated with you or your child's name, as provided by law.

Can my child leave the study at any time?

Yes, he or she may stop at any time.

What if I have questions?

You may call your local SEARCH center. If no one is available at that time to take your call, please leave a voicemail message and we will call you back as soon as possible to answer your questions.

Study Sponsorship

This study is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).