Identifying heart disease early in these patients has been difficult, as many have no obvious symptoms. The purpose of the study will be to formulate guidelines for doctors to screen for coronary artery disease in their diabetic patients. People enrolling in the study will receive standard testing during a four-hour outpatient visit. After this testing, they will be randomized into one of two groups. Both groups will be contacted every six months for three years to collect information about their heart health.
All testing is free and there is no payment to the participants.
Test results will be shared with the patients and their doctors. The patient and doctor will make any treatment decisions that arise from the results of the tests. The investigators at UVa will be available for consultation if desired by the patient's doctor. It's a safe estimate that if we identify people with Type 2 diabetes and ischemic heart disease, they have a 10-20 percent annual event rate. An event may be a heart attack, chest pain leading to immediate surgery, or sudden death.