24 May 2006

100 volunteers needed for Dundee diabetes research

Researchers at the University of Dundee are calling for 100 new volunteers to help them with ground breaking research into improving current health care services for people with Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is fast becoming an epidemic and experts are predicting the problem will continue to get worse as people limit the level of physical activity they do. Since 1999, the number of people with diabetes in Tayside has increased from 9005 to 14,632.

Although regular physical activity is an important component of managing diabetes, health professionals can be unsure of how best to encourage people with the condition to increase their activity levels.

However, a new research study carried out by Dr Alison Kirk, Jodi Barnett and Victoria King, is aiming to change that.

"This Time 2 Act project is one of the first research projects in the UK to investigate the best way to encourage more activity," said Dr Kirk, a lecturer in sports biomedicine at the university’s Institute of Sport and Exercise.

"We know from previous research that if a person with Type 2 diabetes increases the amount of physical activity they do this can have a substantial benefit to their diabetes and general health."

"Unfortunately at the moment patients receive limited guidance on how to get and stay more active. We want to find out the best way to promote physical activity for both the patient and the NHS."

Dr Kirk added that she and her colleagues are looking for 100 people with Type 2 diabetes to volunteer to take part in the project.

"We have no age limit for participation and would like people of all abilities to get involved," she said. "Participation will involve making a total of six visits to the university over a year, expenses will be paid and all participants receive a free pedometer."

"Taking part will give participants extra support and guidance and the chance to have their health closely monitored over the study period."

The research team will be in Dundee’s Overgate Shopping Centre all day on Saturday (May 27) to recruit volunteers. Anyone wishing to volunteer or find out more about the project can speak to the team on Saturday or contact Jodi Barnett on 01382 386859 or j.barnett@dundee.ac.uk

The research is being funded by the charity Diabetes UK.

For media enquiries contact:

Hilary McNally
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: h.mcnally@dundee.ac.uk