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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Understanding the impact of diabetes complications to improve support

Subtitle:
Living with Loss: An exploration of the Psychological Impact of Auto-Amputation using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
Institution:
Bangor University
Location:
Online
Tags:
Interview
Dates:
April 2026

Researchers at Bangor University would like to recruit people:

  • aged 18 or over;
  • who can speak fluent English;
  • who have experienced loss of their toes or fingers because they naturally fell off at least six months ago (this is called 'auto-amputation') OR;
  • who are experiencing loss of toes or fingers currently

to take part in a study aiming to better understand people's experiences of auto-amputation.

Supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of young people with type 1

Institution:
University of Surrey
Location:
Online
Tags:
Questionnaire
Dates:
March 2025
December 2025

Researchers at the University of Surrey would like to recruit people aged 14-18 with type 1 diabetes to take part in a study that will help increase their self-compassion and teach them skills and techniques to be more kind and caring to themselves. Previous research has shown that self-compassionate acts and being kinder to ourselves can increase our physical and mental wellbeing. 

Improving experiences of support in intensive care

Subtitle:
Patient and family voices about care in the intensive care unit
Institution:
University of Hull
Location:
Online
Tags:
Interview
Dates:
June 2025

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

This study is part of a project working with patients, families, and healthcare staff to develop tools to help Intensive Care Units support patients and families, and better provide care to people, including those with diabetes who become seriously ill.

Understanding if people with type 2 experience flavours differently

Subtitle:
Identifying the mechanisms of gut-brain axis to sweet sensing in patients with type 2 diabetes using neuroimaging techniques
Institution:
University of Nottingham
Location:
Online
Tags:
Questionnaire Connect with researchers
Dates:
October 2025
June 2026

Researchers at the University of Nottingham would like to recruit people aged between 18- 60 years living with type 2 diabetes, and who are on diet control or Metformin treatment specifically, to take part in a study that aims to study sensitivity to sweetness in people living with type 2 diabetes.

The research involves an online questionnaire, which may take between 1 hour to 1.5 hours. The study team will send the taste kits to your address, and there will be an online meeting on MS Teams.

Exploring lived experience of type 2 and depression in South Asian people

Subtitle:
Lived Experiences of South Asian Adults Managing Comorbid Type 2 Diabetes and Depression: A Qualitative Study
Institution:
University of Surrey
Location:
Online or in-person
Tags:
Interview
Dates:
October 2025
October 2026

Researchers at the University of Surrey would like to recruit:

  •  South Asian adults;
  • aged 18 years or older;
  • living with both type 2 diabetes and depression 

to take part in a research study exploring their lived experiences of managing these conditions.

Capturing views of healthcare professionals on gestational diabetes support

Subtitle:
Strategy for Creating a Business Base Digital Companion for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
Institution:
Durham University
Location:
Online
Tags:
Interview
Dates:
December 2025
January 2026

Researchers at Durham University Business School are seeking healthcare professionals with experience supporting
women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus to take part in a research study.

Understanding how pharmacies can protect people's heart health

Subtitle:
An exploration of the role of community pharmacy in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in minority ethnic groups
Location:
Online or in-person
Tags:
Interview
Dates:
December 2025
December 2026

Diabetes and heart disease are closely linked.

Researchers at Aston University would like to recruit adults who:

  • have a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and belong to a ethnic minority group OR
  • people who provide care to a person with cardiovascular disease from an ethnic minority group

to take part in a study that is exploring how community pharmacies can better support people from ethnic minority backgrounds to protect themselves against cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Understanding the support young people with chronic conditions need

Subtitle:
Exploring young people’s priorities for effective healthcare transition guidelines: a qualitative study
Institution:
UWE Bristol
Location:
Online or in-person
Tags:
Workshop Interview
Dates:
October 2025
February 2026

Researchers at UWE Bristol would like to recruit people aged 11-25 years old with a diagnosed chronic physical health condition, such as diabetes, to take part in a study that is exploring the types of support that young people with chronic (long-term) physical health conditions want as they prepare to move from child to adult healthcare teams. 

Participation can involve interviews or ‘focus groups’ (group discussions) either online or in-person. This is to discuss your experiences and opinions with people of a similar age.

Improving support for people with type 2 from socioeconomically deprived backgrounds

Subtitle:
Emotions on the diabetes timeline
Institution:
University of Bath
Location:
Online
Tags:
Interview
Dates:
October 2025
June 2026

Researchers at University of Bath would like to recruit people living with type 2 diabetes and whose total household income is less than £36,700 a year to take part in a study to explore perceptions and decisions around type 2 diabetes education.

To gain an in-depth understanding of your individual diabetes experience, we will ask you to create a timeline that captures the chronological sequence of events, decisions, and emotional experiences you have had throughout your journey with type 2 diabetes. You'll then discuss this in a one-to-one interview.

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