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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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.

Understanding how people build healthy eating habits

Subtitle:
From Screen to Self: Evaluating a Digital Perspective Taking Tool for Health Behaviour.
Institution:
City St George's, University of London
Location:
Online
Tags:
Connect with researchers
Dates:
September 2025
August 2026

Researchers at City St Georges, University of London are inviting participants to take part in a research study exploring how people build healthy habits using an innovative psychological tool.
We are looking for people:

  • aged 18 years or older;
  • who can communicate in English;
  • with a BMI above 25;
  • who are trying to manage their weight or diet.

Participation involves a short online meeting, watching short videos, completing reflection exercises, and filling in questionnaires over 4 weeks.

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. 

Reviewing telemedicine vs in-person appointments to manage diabetes

Subtitle:
Experiences and views on the use of telemedicine (e.g. phones and laptops) and in-person appointments for the management of people with diabetes who are a member of a diabetes charity
Institution:
King's College London
Location:
Online
Tags:
Survey
Dates:
August 2025
November 2025

Researchers at King's College London would like to recruit people who:

Understanding medicine information needs of young people with diabetes

Subtitle:
Medicines Information Needs of Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions: A Qualitative Interview study
Institution:
University College London
Location:
Online or face to face
Tags:
Interview
Dates:
September 2025

Researchers at University College London (UCL) would like to recruit young people:

  • aged 10-21 years;
  • living in the UK;
  • with a long-term condition such as diabetes;
  • who require regular medicines

to take part in a study that is aiming to understand what medicine information young people with long-term health conditions may need to help their self-management.

Taking part involves a 30-minute interview (online or face to face, depending on what the participant wishes).

Designing a new support programme for people from black African and black Caribbean backgrounds living with type 2

Subtitle:
The Healthy Eating & Active Lifestyles for Diabetes (HEAL-D) Trial
Institution:
The University of Leicester
Location:
Online/in-person
Tags:
Questionnaire
Dates:
September 2024
August 2025

Researchers at The University of Leicester would like to recruit people aged over 18, with type 2 diabetes and of Black African or Black Caribbean heritage, to take part in a study that will assess a new diabetes information and support programme designed for people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage (the HEAL-D programme). 

Those who are eligible and consent to participate will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:

Exploring lived experiences after transplant

Subtitle:
Experiences of Life After Transplant
Institution:
Newcastle University
Location:
Online
Tags:
Interview
Dates:
January 2025
February 2025

Organ transplantation saves lives. But life after surgery is not always easy. Researchers at Newcastle University would like to interview transplant recipients to find out more about quality of life after surgery. We are nearing the end of recruitment for this study and want to make sure that the lived experiences of people who have received a pancreas transplant are represented in our sample. 

Helping young people develop skills to manage their diabetes

Subtitle:
Dragon Legends: Piloting an augmented reality card game for Diabetes self-management in young people.
Institution:
Royal Holloway
Location:
Online
Tags:
Questionnaire
Dates:
November 2024

If you are:

  • aged 11-21 with a diagnosis of diabetes 
  • parents of young people 11-21 with a diagnosis of diabetes  
  • professionals who work within the diabetes field

you can take part in a study exploring how digital interventions can be used to support young people with self-management of their diabetes. This is a second phase of a larger research project surrounding the game 'Dragon Legends', however you do not need to have played the Dragon Legends game to take part.

Your experience living with painful diabetic neuropathy

Subtitle:
Topic Modelling of Chronic Post-Stroke Pain, Painful Diabetic Neuropathy and Fibromyalgia Patients’ Lived Experiences
Institution:
University of Liverpool
Location:
UK wide
Tags:
Interview
Dates:
June 2023
October 2025

Researchers at University of Liverpool would like to recruit people over 18 with painful diabetic neuropathy to take part in a study. They want to hear from the community, to highlight the main issues that people face daily, throughout their patient journey in accessing care and support, and identify priorities for improved patient care. 

Investigating links between blood sugar levels and eating behaviours in type 1

Subtitle:
Investigating the Relationship Between Glucose Levels and Binge-Eating in Type 1 Diabetes
Institution:
University of Suffolk
Location:
Online
Tags:
Survey
Dates:
May 2025
July 2025

Researchers at the University of Suffolk would like to recruit people with type 1 diabetes aged 18+ that use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to take part in a study that aims to examine the amount of time individuals spend in different blood sugar ranges measured using a CGM, the feelings people experience after seeing certain blood sugar level readings on their glucose monitors, and how different insulin treatment types are linked to certain eating behaviours. 

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