Diabetes research can’t happen without the help of people living with diabetes

Scientists need your help to prevent diabetes, find new treatments, improve care, and ultimately, find a cure.

Whether it's trying a new treatment, or filling out a questionnaire, research breakthroughs can only happen with your support.  

We've answered some common questions about taking part in diabetes research - including who can get involved, the types of studies available, and what the benefits and potential risks are.

Take a look at opportunities for getting involved here. Some you can take part in from home, while others will involve visiting a research clinic. If something catches your eye, get in touch with the study team to find out more. Without you, research can't move forward. 

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Identifying the best support for young people with type 1

Subtitle:
Title of research project/activity Shaped by Connections: Exploring how Social Influences Shape Illness Identity in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes - A Qualitative Study
Institution:
University of Surrey
Location:
Online
Tags:
Questionnaire Interview
Dates:
December 2025
February 2026

Researchers at the University of Surrey are looking for young people aged 13 to 17 with type 1 diabetes to take part in a study exploring how diabetes fits into their identity and daily life.

Improving strategies to support children living with diabetes

Subtitle:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy psychoeducation for carers of children with long-term health conditions
Institution:
University of East Anglia (UEA)
Location:
Online
Tags:
Questionnaire
Dates:
August 2025
February 2026

Researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) would like to recruit parents/carers of children aged 5-12 living with diabetes to take part in a study designed to improve understanding and provide strategies to support your child with worries they may experience in relation to their health condition.

Understanding the impact of switching to a different insulin

Subtitle:
Exploring patient perception and experience of biosimilar insulin switches
Institution:
Liverpool John Moores University
Location:
Online
Tags:
Questionnaire Interview
Dates:
February 2026
February 2027

Researchers at Liverpool John Moores University would like to recruit volunteers, aged 18 or over, to tell us about their experience of being switched to a different brand of their usual insulin (also known as a biosimilar). 

To be eligible, you will need to be a person living with diabetes who has been switched to a different brand of their insulin (for example, from NovoRapid® to Trurapi®, Humalog® to Admelog® or Lantus® to Semglee®/Abasaglar®).

We are conducting this study to understand how people have experienced switches and to inform future practice.

Can 3D-printed insoles help protect against foot ulcers in type 2?

Subtitle:
Offloading with additive manufactured foot orthoses using optimally tested designs, study 2
Institution:
Glasgow Caledonian University
Location:
In-person
Tags:
Clinical trial Connect with researchers
Dates:
April 2026
June 2026

Researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University would like to recruit people with diabetes who have reduced or no sensation in their feet (termed 'neuropathy'), to take part in a study aiming to make personalised 3D-printed insoles to reduce pressure for at-risk feet.

The study involves two visits to our lab in Glasgow Caledonian University. During the visits, you will be asked to walk on a pressure platform and have your foot shape captured using a 3D scanner. This will be used to create custom 3D-printed insoles. 

Can a daily supplement improve the health of people at risk of type 2?

Subtitle:
Probiotic Impact on Cognitive Performance and Metabolic Outcomes in Overweight Young Adults with Impaired Glucose Regulation (Pro-Cog Trial)
Institution:
Leeds Beckett University
Location:
In-person
Tags:
Clinical trial Questionnaire
Dates:
August 2025
August 2027

Researchers at Leeds Beckett University would like to recruit adults:

Our Future Health

Subtitle:
Our Future Health
Institution:
Our Future Health
Location:
UK wide
Tags:
Connect with researchers Clinical trial
Dates:
July 2022
December 2025

Researchers at Our Future Health would like to recruit 5 million people aged 18 and over to take part in a new study designed to help researchers discover new ways to prevent, detect and treat common health conditions like diabetes, cancer, and dementia. 

Exploring experiences of diabetes misdiagnosis

Subtitle:
Type 1 Diabetes Misdiagnosis Study
Institution:
Imperial College London
Location:
Online
Tags:
Questionnaire Interview
Dates:
March 2025
July 2025

Researchers at Imperial College London would like to recruit adults aged 18-49 years old living with type 1 diabetes who:

•    were initially misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes under the age of 40 years 
•    were reclassified with type 1 diabetes by a Consultant Diabetologist 
•    were reclassified in the last 10 years
•    have experienced at least 3 months between diagnoses

Exploring experiences of life before, during, and after ICU admission in people with diabetes

Subtitle:
What are the Experiential Processes of Post-Traumatic Growth Following Time Spent in an Intensive Care Unit?
Institution:
Coventry University
Location:
Coventry
Tags:
Interview
Dates:
May 2025
November 2025

Diabetes can sometimes, unfortunately, mean that people need to receive care in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in hospital.

Researchers at Coventry University would like to recruit people aged 18-65 years old who have been in an ICU for at least 3 days (within the last 1-15 years) to take part in a study looking at the process of how ICU survivors develop positive changes in their personal outlook on life.

Co-creating an app to support mental health of young people with type 1

Subtitle:
Co-creating an app to support mental well-being in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Concept development and design.
Institution:
University of Warwick
Location:
Online
Tags:
Survey
Dates:
July 2025
March 2026

Researchers at the University of Warwick would like to recruit people living with type 1 diabetes aged between 11-17 years old, or caregivers of young people with type 1, to take part in a study that is aiming to co-create a mobile health app to support the mental wellbeing of young people living with type 1 diabetes. 

Understanding how proteins contribute to insulin resistance

Subtitle:
Disruption to AMPKβ1/2 in insulin resistant skeletal muscle and its signalling implications on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake.
Institution:
University of Roehampton / Coventry University
Location:
In-person
Tags:
Clinical trial Connect with researchers
Dates:
January 2025
September 2027

Researchers at The University of Roehampton & Coventry University would like to recruit people living with prediabetes (HbA1c 6- 6.4%) who are aged 18-50 to take part in an exciting new study. 

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