Study recruitment: Learning about treatments for people newly diagnosed with diabetes

Researchers are interested to find out what people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes think about potential future treatments.

Researchers at University of Birmingham are looking to recruit people aged 16 and over, or parents/guardians of children under 16, newly diagnosed with diabetes for a study.

The study team would like to talk to those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the last two years to participate in a study that aims to help researchers learn more about patient and parent views on potential treatments for people newly diagnosed with the condition, and how acceptable these might be.
The study will take place in the form of an online session lasting 1.5–2 hours (face-to-face meetings can be considered) with a group of 6–8 similar participants.

You would be asked to talk about your experience of diagnosis, as well as discuss your thoughts on different potential treatments that could be used in the future for type 1 diabetes patients. You will receive a £20 Amazon gift voucher for your time.

Sophie Beese, Senior Systematic Reviewer at the University of Birmingham and research fellow for the study, said: “Currently, treatments for type 1 diabetes involve patients receiving insulin through injections or other methods like continuous pumps, to maintain blood glucose levels.

“However, this treatment is lifelong. Lots of studies have been carried out to test if certain treatments could be used when patients are first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes to try and maintain beta cell levels.

“This may help to control blood glucose levels and reduce the chance of patients experiencing episodes of low blood glucose levels, or hypoglycaemia) and other complications. 

“There are several of these treatments that could potentially help patients, but at the moment we do not know which ones are best. We need more research studies (trials) which can compare treatments and see which benefit patients the most.

“Patients’ views are really important in deciding which treatments to study further, as we need to know that treatments are acceptable to the people who will be offered treatment. We want to explore people’s thoughts on these different treatments and their acceptability (how they might feel about using them) at the time of diagnosis.

“The information you share will help stakeholders make decisions about which treatments could be studied further in clinical trials and used in practice for patients in the future. By taking part, you may be contributing to potential improvements in research in the future.”

Take the online survey

For more information email here

NOTE: DRWF will from time-to-time advise readers of ‘calls to participate’ in diabetes and related health research studies. It should not necessarily be considered that the charity is in any way connected to the study or the group issuing the call for participants. If we are involved in any way, we will make this known. We will only share external calls where we have confirmed that the study holds ethics committee approval, and the study is specific to diabetes and related health. Taking part in a medical research study is a big step and further helpful information can be found via the National Institute for Health and Care Research Clinical Trials Guide.