The Early ACTivity In Diabetes (Early ACTID) study, run by the University of Bristol, is assessing the benefits of diet and exercise for people with type 2 diabetes. Exercise and diet are thought to be important factors in the treatment of the disease. Researchers know diet can control glucose levels and improve blood pressure and cholesterol in people with diabetes but it is not known whether also increasing exercise will provide additional improvements in these factors. Conducting the study has been made possible by a combined award of a £1 million grant from Diabetes UK and NHS Research and Development.
The trial has recruited nearly 500 patients and now wishes to involve another 80 people from across the south west who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after October 2007. Individuals will be allocated to one of the three groups. Those in the first group receive regular help and advice on improving their diet, the second group receive the same dietary advice, but also receive help to increase their daily levels of exercise. The final group will be a control group, which will receive standard care.
Participants are seen at their most local hospital. Hospitals involved in the study include Musgrove Park, Taunton; Weston General, Weston-super-Mare; the BRI, Southmead and Frenchay, Bristol; Delancey, Cheltenham and Gloucester hospitals.
The programme is a joint study between three departments at the University of Bristol. Drs Robert Andrews and Colin Dayan from Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, Dr Ashley Cooper in the Department of Exercise and Health Sciences, and Dr Alan Montgomery and Professors Tim Peters and Debbie Sharp in Primary Health Care.
Alastair Norcross, Early ACTID Study Coordinator, said: "This study has proved more popular than we expected - over 95 per cent of people have completed the whole one year programme and many people have said that they would have wanted to continue after the end of their year with us."
A participant, who has recently completed a year with the study, added "I enjoyed the programme, it focused my attention, made me very aware of how to understand and control my diabetes. Great thing for anyone recently diagnosed as the information and support is great."
It you would like part in the study and have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the last six months, please contact the Early ACTID team for more information on 0117 928 2440 or visit www.bristol.ac.uk/earlyactid.