Diabetes UK has invited hundreds of people with Type 1 diabetes, their families and healthcare professionals to choose their most pressing research priorities for Type 1 diabetes.
The last such survey was completed in 2011, so the latest research – which condensed and whittled down nearly 3,000 questions submitted by people affected by Type 1 – has a top 10 with somewhat different priorities:
- Can the use of artificial intelligence or faster acting insulins help achieve fully closed loop insulin delivery?
- Is time in range a better predictor of diabetes management and complications compared to HbA1c?
- What impact do hormonal phases such as the perimenstrual period and menopause play in glycaemic management and what treatments are most effective for managing glucose levels around these times?
- What interventions are the most effective for reducing diabetes related distress and burnout?
- What are the long-term implications of frequent hypoglycaemia on physical and mental health?
- What impact does Type 1 diabetes (including frequent low blood sugar) have on memory and cognition in older adults?
- How can health care professionals better take into account the physical, psychological and social aspects of Type 1 diabetes in clinics?
- How can access to potential therapies, like stem cell therapy, transplants and medications that modify the immune systems, be improved so that everyone with Type 1 diabetes can be guaranteed access?
- Why do some people with Type 1 diabetes become insulin resistant and does resistance increase with the number of years a person has diabetes? If so, why?
- Can technology assist to accurately count carbohydrates without having to weigh or measure all foods and drink?
The identification of these top ten priorities will help Diabetes UK in the decisions it makes about how research is funded, and they will also inform the work of the Diabetes Research Steering Groups.
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