Diabetes is a common long-term condition affecting around 4-5% of the UK's population. Poorly controlled diabetes elevates blood glucose levels which longer term can result in serious complications including blindness, renal failure and amputation. Treatments have traditionally been chosen for patients by their health care professional, but medical therapies in isolation have limited success as patients find it difficult to adjust to their altered lifestyles including changes in diet, exercise and medication.

Engaging patients in active self management of their diabetes may be the key to helping them adjust and adhere to treatments, and is the focus of programmes of research within the Diabetes Theme. Our most recent phase of research looks at transition services from Paediatrics to Adult Services: 

1. Development of DESMOND-Ongoing for people with established type-2 diabetes. 
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2. Development of a new model of care for young people with type-1 diabetes – the Adolescent Research Programme. 
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3. WICKED – Working with Insulin Carbs, Ketones and Exercise to manage Diabetes.WICKED is a structured education course for young people aged 16-20, living with type-1 diabetes, and has been developed as a result of interviews with young people, their parents and staff in Phase 1 of the Adolescent Programme of Research. This identified the need for structured education for adolescents in transition services (between paediatric and adult care).The development of WICKED has been led by Vanessa Whitehead and Kay Bottrell (Diabetes Specialist Nurses for young people).