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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Navigating perimenopause and menopause

Subtitle:
Comparison of peri/menopause experiences of female adults WITH AND WITHOUT diabetes: a cross-sectional survey
Institution:
Ulster University
Location:
Online
Tags:
Survey
Dates:
October 2025
November 2025

Are you a midlife female living with diabetes? Have you reached that stage of life when you could be peri or menopausal? We would like to learn from your experience.  

Most women don’t know this, but there’s very little research into how menopause affects diabetes - and almost none on how diabetes affects menopause.  

Perimenopause is the years before menopause, and they’re no picnic!

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 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:

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. 

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. 

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.

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