Low Carb Program for Type 2 Diabetes and pre-Diabetes

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Sign-posting to the Low Carb Program - a feasibility study of a brief intervention for people with Type 2 Diabetes and pre-Diabetes in General Practice

  • IRAS ID

    232259

  • Contact name

    Emma J Scott

  • Contact email

    e.j.scott@warwick.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Warwick - Research & Impact Services

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 0 days

  • Research summary

    One-third of UK adults are estimated to have pre-diabetes, another 4m people have type 2 diabetes. Most are managed in general practice. Weight loss is key to successful management, but given the limited availability of weight management services, there is a pressing need for effective, low-cost interventions that can be delivered by GP teams.
    The Low Carb Program is a 10-week, online, evidence-based dietary education program specifically developed for people with diabetes. It has been widely used and appears highly acceptable, but currently patients find it by chance or peer recommendation.
    This study will explore the feasibility of GP teams sign-posting patients to the Low Carb Program and establish key parameters for a future trial of clinical- and cost-effectiveness.
    Within routine consultations, GPs, practice nurses and healthcare assistants from up to eight practices will signpost patients with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes and overweight/obesity to the Low Carb Program. Questionnaires and interviews at three and six months will explore the patient’s experience and reasons for engagement or non-engagement. Key physiological variables will be measured to inform primary outcome choice and sample size calculations for a future clinical trial. Participating clinicians will be interviewed about their experience of the intervention and the feasibility of incorporating its delivery into practice.

  • REC name

    West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    18/WM/0295

  • Date of REC Opinion

    2 Oct 2018

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion