Diabetes UK Launches New Research Strategy

The charity’s research mission is 'to improve the lives of people with diabetes and at high risk of diabetes and to work towards a future without diabetes'. The new strategy aims to achieve this by investing in research to support Diabetes UK's three strategic priorities, launched in 2009.

3/7/2011 --- Diabetes UK has launched its new five-year Research Strategy to guide its investment in research from the start of 2011. The charity’s research mission is 'to improve the lives of people with diabetes and at high risk of diabetes and to work towards a future without diabetes'.

The new strategy aims to achieve this by investing in research to support Diabetes UK's three strategic priorities, launched in 2009:

•    Quality care for all. Research will provide the evidence base to underpin and inform Diabetes UK’s wider activities. It will ensure that everyone diagnosed with diabetes receives the most effective care, and that all public and private institutions act inclusively for all those living with diabetes and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind.
•    Healthy lifestyle. Research will provide people with all types of diabetes and healthcare professionals with the best available evidence regarding nutrition and physical activity. This will lead to better control of diabetes for those with the condition and will help to prevent Type 2 diabetes developing in those at particular risk.
•    Research for a better life. Research will improve the lives of people living with diabetes in the short, medium and long term. This includes basic research looking at the causes of diabetes and potential cures, improving treatments, avoiding complications and addressing mental health issues.

"Through this strategy, Diabetes UK will continue to fund the highest-quality research to bring about improvements to the lives of people living with diabetes and those at high risk," said Dr Iain Frame, Director of Research at Diabetes UK.

"We're also committed to supporting people affected by diabetes to be involved in all stages of the research process, from setting strategies through to monitoring the progress of funded research studies.

"We will continue to do this and, importantly, where research results provide the evidence-base needed to lead to improvements in quality of care, Diabetes UK will ensure that they are brought to the attention of policy makers and those tasked with implementing policies to benefit as many people as possible," added Dr Frame.