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.

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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Gathering views on type 2 diabetes self-management support

Subtitle:
Self-management support for diabetes: Global exploration of patients and healthcare professionals' perspectives.
Institution:
James Cook University
Location:
Online
Tags:
Survey Interview
Dates:
March 2025
March 2026

Researchers at James Cook University, Australia would like to recruit people living with type 2 diabetes and healthcare professionals (doctors, diabetes nurse-educators, general nurses, dietitians, psychologists, podiatrists and community health workers) over 18 to take part in a study that aims to assess the perceptions of patients and healthcare professionals on current diabetes self-management. This will help to identify barriers to effective support and ways to improve it.

Can fibre supplements help people with type 2 to manage their blood sugar levels?

Subtitle:
FIBRE study: Feasibility of an Intervention using precision fibre Blends as a self-management tool in pRE- and type 2 diabetes
Institution:
Barts Health NHS Trust
Location:
London
Tags:
type 2 Clinical trial
Dates:
April 2023
December 2024

Researchers at Barts Health NHS Trust in London would like to recruit people aged 18–75 years living with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes (managed by diet, and not currently taking any diabetes medication such as metformin) to take part in a study. The aim of the study is to see how effective a daily fibre supplement could be as a tool to manage blood sugar levels at home, compared with their usual diet.

How do people choose dressings for foot ulcers?

Subtitle:
"Had to put something on it”: A qualitative study to investigate the reasoning behind choices of coverings patients use on their foot ulcers?
Institution:
University of Brighton
Location:
UK wide
Tags:
Interview

Researchers at University of Brighton would like to recruit people with any type of diabetes who currently have, or have had, foot ulcers to take part in a study looking at the r

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:

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. 

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.

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.

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