Carbohydrate Awareness Advice

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    CAADDi - Carbohydrate Awareness Advice by Dietitians in Diabetes

  • IRAS ID

    201232

  • Contact name

    Paul D McArdle

  • Contact email

    paul.mcardle@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Birmingham

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 4 months, 27 days

  • Research summary

    Carbohydrate Awareness Advice by Dietitians in Diabetes (CAADDi).
    Over 3 million people in the UK have diabetes, most of which have type 2 diabetes, and the condition has huge personal and financial costs. Diet plays an crucial role in the management of type 2 diabetes and has demonstrated significant benefits in improving diabetes outcomes.

    Carbohydrate (found in starchy foods like bread, pasta, potatoes and rice as well as all forms of sugar: natural or added) is the main nutrient that will cause the blood glucose (type of sugar in the blood) to rise. However research has been unable to state how much carbohydrate people with diabetes should eat in order to get the best health outcomes. This has left some professionals, including dietitians, uncertain how to advise patients about carbohydrate.

    This community-based research study will interview adults (18+ years) with diabetes who have previously received advice from dietitians to understand their experience of this advice. In particular, what was helpful or unhelpful about the advice and how they’ve used it in making decisions about what to eat.

    In addition, focus groups (a group interview / discussion) will be held with dietitians who see people with diabetes in one to one consultations. This will be used to understand how dietitians decide how they are going to advise different types of patients about carbohydrate.

    The findings from all of this will be brought together to develop a framework for advising patients about carbohydrate, called ‘Carbohydrate Awareness Advice’. Therefore, the overall aim is to encourage consistency amongst health professionals, provide clearer advice for patients and hopefully better health outcomes for patients. This research is part of a PhD (research doctorate) and will run until February 2018, but data collection will be complete by September 2017.

  • REC name

    Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    16/YH/0192

  • Date of REC Opinion

    9 May 2016

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion