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

You can play a vital role by taking part in a research study or trial.

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Scientists need your help to prevent diabetes, find new treatments, improve care, and ultimately, stop diabetes in its tracks.

But before new treatments can benefit people living with diabetes, they must be carefully tested to work out if they're safe, what the side effects are and whether they're better than treatments we already have. By volunteering to take part, you could play a crucial part in the fight for a world where diabetes can do no harm.

You can get involved in research at any time, but did you know many clinical trials testing new treatments to stop Type 1 diabetes in its tracks can only recruit people within the first six months of their diagnosis?

  • ADDRESS-2 is meeting the challenge and recruiting people with Type 1 diabetes to clinical trials pioneering new immunotherapies to slow or stop Type 1 in its tracks.
  • The Type 1 diabetes Immunotherapy Consortium (T1D UK) brings together researchers from across the UK to run trials that develop and test new immunotherapies.
  • TrialNet is an international network of leading academic institutions, scientists and healthcare teams dedicated to the prevention of Type 1 diabetes, by working with both people living with Type 1 diabetes and their families.

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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Type of diabetes
Type of study

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. 

Capturing experiences of type 1 diabetes at university

Subtitle:
Understanding the social, psychological, and behavioural aspects of living with Type 1 diabetes at university
Institution:
University of Essex
Location:
Online
Tags:
Survey Interview
Dates:
May 2025
March 2026

Researchers at the University of Essex would like to recruit undergraduate university students living with type 1 diabetes between the ages of aged 18-25 years old who do not live with their parents/guardians during term time to take part in a study that aims to understand how students live with type 1 diabetes at university over time.

Understanding experiences of care given by dietitians

Subtitle:
Causes and consequences of workforce homogeneity : using mixed methodology to develop a theory of change for UK dietitians.
Institution:
Anglia Ruskin University
Location:
Online
Tags:
Survey
Dates:
June 2025
September 2025

People living with diabetes should see a dietitian as soon as they are diagnosed and have regular, on-going reviews.

Researchers at Anglia Ruskin university would like to recruit people who have received care from a dietitian in the UK to take part in a study that is aimed to understand people's opinions on and experiences of dietitian care.   

The study involves a short survey about your experience of dietitian care, which will last about 15 minutes.  

Exploring type 1, mental health & diabetes management

Subtitle:
What psychological factors are linked to the emotional wellbeing of adults with Type 1 diabetes?
Institution:
University of Sheffield
Location:
Online
Tags:
Questionnaire
Dates:
July 2025
October 2025

Researchers at the University of Sheffield would like to recruit people aged 18 and over who have been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes for a minimum of one year. The study aims to understand what psychological factors (things linked to your thoughts, feelings, and personality that influence how you behave and experience the world) may be linked to your mental health and diabetes management.

Understanding the barriers to insulin treatment for type 2

Subtitle:
Barriers and Facilitators to Initiation of Insulin Therapy in People with T2D from Ethnic Minority Populations
Institution:
University of Leicester
Location:
UK wide
Tags:
Interview
Dates:
February 2024
October 2024

Researchers at the University of Leicester are looking to recruit people aged 18-85, from ethnic minority backgrounds and living with type 2 diabetes, for a study on barriers to insulin treatment.

You may help researchers understand the barriers and facilitators to insulin therapy by sharing your experiences with being offered insulin and using insulin therapy. You don't necessarily have to be currently using insulin to take part in this study.

Type 1 diabetes stem cell infusion research study

Subtitle:
FORWARD - Type 1 diabetes stem cell infusion research study
Institution:
King's College Hospital NHS Trust Guy's and St Thomas NHS Trust
Location:
UK wide
Tags:
Clinical trial
Dates:
August 2024
January 2025

Researchers are working with a sponsor to study if an investigational islet cell infusion is safe and effective for providing replacement cells for the ones that have been lost or do not work properly in people living with type 1 diabetes. Participants must meet certain requirements to be eligible.

Eligible Participants Must:

Testing the new healthcare package: MiFoot

Subtitle:
Developing and Evaluating a Multifactorial Intervention to Improve Cardiovascular Outcomes in Adults with type 2 Diabetes and Current or Previous Diabetic Foot Ulcers (MiFoot)
Institution:
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Location:
Leicester
Tags:
Clinical trial
Dates:
November 2023

Researchers at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust would like to recruit people aged 18 and over, living with type 2 diabetes and have or have had diabetic foot ulcer to to take part in a study. They're testing their new healthcare package MiFoot for preventing heart attacks and strokes and early death.

Investigating links between living with obesity and people's sleeping patterns

Subtitle:
Chronotype, Exercise Timing Preference, Dietary and Health-Related Behaviours: are they related?
Institution:
University of Ulster
Location:
Northern Ireland
Tags:
Survey
Dates:
June 2025
September 2025

Researchers at Ulster University would like to recruit people aged 18 years and above, who are a resident in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and have a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m2 or more to take part in a study investigating links between people's natural sleep patterns (whether you're a morning or evening person), eating habits, exercise routines, and daily lifestyle.

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