Research To Improve Diabetes Management, UK

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 15 Jan 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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As a result of its largest single call for research proposals to date, Diabetes UK has dedicated more than £4m towards projects specifically with the aim of improving the day-to-day management of diabetes.

The call for research proposals came about following a wide-ranging consultation with our members and other interested stakeholders about what they felt should be our priority areas for research.

The call was launched in July 2007 and offered researchers the opportunity to request up to five years' funding with no upper limit on the amount required. Decisions were taken in December 2007 and six applications have been recommended for funding.

Exciting proposals

The six applications cover a wide range of subject areas relating to the day-to-day management of diabetes from pre-pregnancy education, decision making during pregnancy, structured education for adolescents, the further development of the artificial pancreas to prevent overnight hypoglycaemia in adults, and clinical trials to test the potential benefits of pumps over multiple daily injections.

"I am delighted that Diabetes UK has had another successful call for research proposals," said Dr Iain Frame, Director of Research.

"The results of this latest call to improve the day-to-day management of diabetes are particularly exciting because the call came directly from our research priorities consultation earlier this year.

"We will all be watching the progress of these proposals with great interest over the coming few years."

Projects funded

Dr Helen Murphy, Ipswich Diabetes Centre, Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust

Improving the day-to-day management of diabetes during pregnancy using an innovative decision support system.

Dr Roman Hovorka, University of Cambridge

Overnight hypoglycaemia prevention in adults with Type 1 diabetes.

Dr Valerie Holmes, Queen's University Belfast

An interactive DVD to increase awareness of reproductive health issues and preconception care in women with diabetes.

Dr Katherine Price, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust

KICk-OFF: A trial comparing intensive structured education with standard education in 11- to 16-year-olds on intensive insulin therapy.

Dr James Shaw, University of Newcastle

Prevention of recurrent severe hypoglycaemia: comparing multiple injections and insulin pump therapy.

Dr Stephen Greene, University of Dundee

'Tight glycaemic control' and the risk of hypoglycaemia: Is this different between multiple injections versus insulin pump therapy?

http://www.diabetes.org.uk