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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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.

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 to take part in a study that aims to understand how students live with type 1 diabetes at university over time.

In this study, you will complete 4 interviews and online surveys every 2-3 months for one year. The interviews and surveys will be held online. Interviews will ask you questions about your experience living at university and surveys will ask you specific questions about your health, behaviour, and wellbeing.

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.

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.

Shaping emotional wellbeing support for people with type 2

Subtitle:
DWELL - Developing a digital health intervention to support emotional wellbeing in people with type 2 diabetes
Institution:
Queen Mary University of London, University of Bath
Location:
Online or in-person
Tags:
Interview Workshop Connect with researchers
Dates:
September 2025
February 2026

Help Shape Support for Emotional Wellbeing in Diabetes

Are you living with type 2 diabetes? Your experiences matter — and we’d love to hear from you.

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London and the University of Bath are inviting adults (18+) to take part in the DWELL study — a project focused on improving emotional wellbeing for people living with diabetes.

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. 

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