CompletedInterventional

The healthy eating & active lifestyles for diabetes trial

Type 2 diabetes is more common and often starts earlier in people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage. Good food choices and moving more are key to staying well with diabetes, but standard advice does not always fit cultural foods or daily life. The HEAL-D study is testing a healthy eating and activity programme created alongside people from Black African and Black Caribbean communities. Around 300 adults in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leicester will take part. Participants will be put into one of two groups: one receives the new 8-session HEAL-D programme, and the other receives their usual local NHS diabetes education. Researchers will check health markers, like blood sugar and blood pressure, over two years to see which programme works best and offers the best value for money.

At a glance

Status

Completed

Sponsor

University of Leicester

Enrolment target

300

Start

18 Sep 2024

Estimated completion

22 Dec 2025

Type 2 diabetes

What is this study about?

Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the level of sugar in your blood becomes too high. In the UK, it is significantly more common and tends to develop at a younger age in people from Black African and Black Caribbean backgrounds compared to white backgrounds. If blood sugar stays high over time, it can lead to serious complications, including eyesight trouble and kidney disease. Eating well and being active are some of the most effective ways to protect your health, but healthy living advice is often not tailored to traditional African and Caribbean foods or lifestyles.

To bridge this gap, researchers and community members developed HEAL-D, which stands for 'Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyles for Diabetes'. This programme offers practical, culturally relevant guidance on diet, physical activity, and day-to-day diabetes care. It gives people a chance to share experiences with others who have similar backgrounds and health goals.

The main aim of this study is to compare the HEAL-D programme with standard NHS diabetes education courses. Researchers want to find out whether the culturally tailored sessions make a bigger difference in lowering blood sugar levels, improving general wellbeing, and protecting against diabetes complications over a two-year period.

Key takeaways

The HEAL-D study tests a culturally tailored diet and exercise programme for Black African and Black Caribbean adults with type 2 diabetes.
Participants are randomly assigned to either the HEAL-D programme or standard NHS diabetes education.
You can choose between attending sessions in person or online via video call.
Health checks, including blood sugar and blood pressure, are tracked over 24 months.
Participation is free, voluntary, and includes modest reimbursement for your time and travel.

Who may be eligible?

You may be able to join if you are aged 18 or older and have type 2 diabetes. You must also be of Black African, Black Caribbean, Black British, or Mixed heritage with African or Caribbean roots. Because the course involves group conversations and light physical activity, you will need to feel comfortable taking part in small group workshops.

This study might not be right for you if you are currently pregnant or have complex medical conditions—such as severe kidney disease—that require individual, specialist care. It is also not suitable for people who need individual learning support or translation services, as all sessions and study materials are in English.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

I am aged 18 or over.
I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
I identify as Black African, Black Caribbean, Black British, or Mixed with African/Caribbean heritage.
I am comfortable taking part in small group discussions and light activity.
I am not currently pregnant.
I do not need personal one-to-one medical care or translation support to join group sessions.

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you will be randomly placed into one of two groups by a computer. One group will attend the HEAL-D programme, which includes eight 2-hour group sessions spread across six months. The other group will take part in their local area's standard NHS diabetes education course, which usually takes between 6 and 12 hours. Depending on what suits you best, you can choose to join sessions in person or online via video call.

You will continue taking your normal diabetes medicines throughout the trial. To see how you are doing, the research team will measure your blood sugar (HbA1c), cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, and waist size. You will also answer simple questionnaires about your daily life and how you feel. These checks take place before you start, and then again at 6, 12, and 24 months. You will receive a small payment to thank you for your time and cover travel costs for measurement visits.

Potential risks and benefits

By taking part, you will get extra health checks and practical support to help you manage your diabetes and boost your overall wellbeing. The findings may also help improve diabetes care for Black communities across the UK in the future. The risks of taking part are very low. Having a blood sample taken can cause brief discomfort or slight bruising, but this will always be done by trained healthcare staff. Routine checks might occasionally spot an unrelated health issue, which your doctor can help you with. Taking part is completely voluntary, and you are free to leave the study at any time without it affecting your standard NHS care.

Locations (6)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
City only
London, England
The University of Manchester
City only
Manchester, England
The University of Warwick
City only
Coventry, England
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
City only
Manchester, England
West Midlands Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN)
City only
-, England
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Unverified
Leicester, England

Common questions

Can I choose which diabetes group I join?

No. A computer will randomly choose whether you join the HEAL-D programme or the standard NHS course so that the researchers can compare them fairly.

Do I have to attend the sessions in person?

No, you can choose whether to attend the group sessions face-to-face at a local venue or online through video calls from home.

Will taking part change the medications I take?

No. The study focuses purely on healthy lifestyle education. You will carry on taking your usual prescribed medicines under the care of your regular GP or diabetes team.

Do I have to pay to join the study?

No, the study is entirely free. You will also receive modest financial compensation to help cover your travel and time for the measurement visits.

Where is the study taking place?

The trial is coordinated by the University of Leicester and is running in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leicester.

How to find out more

Louise Goff

Louise.goff@leicester.ac.uk None provided Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.