D-stress feasibility study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimising the delivery of Diabetes Distress informed care for its prevention, detection, and management in adults with type 1 diabetes: a feasibility study (D-stress study)
IRAS ID
349849
Contact name
Jackie Sturt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
RE22932, Organisation's (King's College London) reference number; 349849, IRAS number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 18 days
Research summary
An estimated 42% of adults living with type 1 diabetes report elevated levels of distress, which contributes to suboptimal diabetes outcomes (for example, hypoglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis) resulting in even higher health costs (Hex, Bartlett et al. 2012, Fisher, Hessler et al. 2016, Fisher, Hessler et al. 2018, Abdoli, Jones et al. 2019, Stedman, Lunt et al. 2020). We call this Diabetes distress (DD). Whilst the term distress relates to numerous things which cause mental and physical suffering, anxiety and worries, for example, diabetes distress relates specifically to the emotional and psychological aspects of living with type one or type two diabetes. Importantly, persistent unaddressed elevated diabetes distress can lead to diabetes burnout, which is characterised by states of exhaustion, detachment and powerlessness (Abdoli, Miller-Bains et al. 2020). Diabetes UK (DUK) recognise the importance of this issue noting that reducing the prevalence of diabetes distress has the potential to improve healthcare appointments attendance, quality of life, and management of diabetes thus helping to optimise glycaemia, reducing diabetes complications and NHS costs (for type 1 and type 2 diabetes) which are “projected to rise to 17% in 2036-2036” (Hex, Bartlett et al. 2012,p.855, Fisher, Hessler et al. 2016, Schmidt, van Loon et al. 2018). Our feasibility study, which incorporates a randomised cluster feasibility trial using a staircase design, will be a first and important step towards addressing existing gaps in research, namely: 1). Evaluating the feasibility of conducting a main randomised cluster trial using a staircase design evaluating DD in the NHS setting, 2). Helping to inform future improvements and innovation in the field of diabetes care, in the UK NHS; 3). Exploring the opportunities and barriers to implementing and accessing diabetes distress related care ({Grantham, Forbes et al. 2023).
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0469
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jul 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion