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 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

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
January 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. 

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 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. 

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.

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:

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. 

Studies for children and young people with diabetes

Subtitle:
Studies for children and young people with diabetes
Institution:
British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes
Location:
UK-wide
Tags:
Clinical trial Connect with researchers Questionnaire Interview

 

It’s really important that young people and families have opportunities to take part in research. A portfolio of studies currently underway and looking to recruit people across the UK can be found on the British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes website.

Families interested in taking part in any of the studies can contact the relevant research teams provided within the descriptions.

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:

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