Diabetes Stopwatch v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Effectiveness of a wearable technology combined with integrating motivational instant messaging into an e-diabetes prevention programme in people at high risk of type 2 diabetes: a prospective, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial
IRAS ID
197384
Contact name
Khalida Ismail
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 22 days
Research summary
Globally diabetes poses a major challenge, nationally and at a local level. The economic impact and the effects of diabetes on quality of life are very significant and growing. Nearly 400 million people suffer from diabetes across the world. In the UK 3.2 million people have been diagnosed and it is estimated that there are almost another 0.8 million undiagnosed. For the UK, the cost of treatment is estimated to be approaching £1B annually, with the wider cost of complications estimated to be £9B.
The aim is to develop an e-health system/platform which gathers patient data on activity, eating behaviours and thoughts and feelings about diabetes. The system will also be underpinned by electronic and multimedia based motivational interventions and feedback to prompt, encourage and facilitate becoming more confident and willing to change behaviours. For example, changing the habit of eating “late” to one of eating at a more appropriate time, eating nutritionally balanced meals, managing cravings, comfort eating in response to low mood or stress and perceptions of low blood sugar.
The purpose of this project is to determine if targeted motivational messaging as feedback on biological data collected via wearable technology can reduce weight and increase physical activity; the two main risk factors for type-2 diabetes.
The study will be set in primary care surgeries in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham which are one of the most ethnically and socioeconomically diverse areas in the UK.
The target population are people at high risk of type 2 diabetes and the study population will be patients registered in primary care at high risk of type 2 diabetes. Adults aged 18-65 years will be identified using a two stage screening, potentially eligible patients will be identified by primary care search engines for pre diabetes and invited for assessment using HbA1c.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1505
Date of REC Opinion
5 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion