Millions of people have heart disease or are at high risk of developing heart disease because they have diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or high triglycerides.

Managing these conditions is important, because heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. Heart disease is also the leading cause of premature death and disability worldwide. And, people with type 2 diabetes are about twice as likely to die from heart disease as adults who do not have diabetes.

In many cases, people do not experience symptoms of heart disease until the damage has already occurred. You can help protect your health by managing your weight, blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In addition, statin medications have proven to be highly effective for preventing and treating heart disease. But statins alone may not be enough, and many people cannot tolerate statins.

Right now, local doctors are conducting clinical trials evaluating study medications for people with heart disease or risk factors for heart disease, including type 2 diabetes. You may be eligible to participate!

You may qualify for clinical trials. But don’t delay — space is limited!