October NUI Galway Seek Participants for Diabetes Prevention Study

Researchers are asking the public for their views to develop an online programme to support healthy behaviours to prevent Diabetes

Researchers from the School of Psychology in NUI Galway are inviting people to share their views on Diabetes, diet, physical activity, and a programme that uses a smartphone app and live health coaching to help people improve their health.  

The PRE-T2D (Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes) study is a 15-minute online survey that is open to all people aged over 18 living in Ireland and findings will be critical to the development of an online Diabetes Prevention Programme to be delivered in Ireland.

According to the Healthy Ireland Survey, over 800,000 adults over 40 in Ireland either have, or are at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. This condition can be prevented through healthy eating and regular physical activity. However, maintaining healthy behaviours can be challenging, particularly during a pandemic.

Luke Van Rhoon, PhD Candidate in Health Psychology, Health Behaviour Change Research Group, NUI Galway, said: “We aim not only to prevent Diabetes, but help people to better manage their diet, exercise, and daily stress in the long run. This is particularly important as we currently face many new physical and psychological challenges due to the emergence of Covid-19. Technology is becoming increasingly vital in the self-management of our health and how we communicate with health care professionals, friends, and family. Although online Diabetes Prevention Programmes have been successfully implemented in other countries, it is important to create a unique programme that suits the needs of the Irish population.”

This study is funded by the Irish Research Council and is supervised by Professor Molly Byrne and Dr Jenny McSharry, Directors of the Health Behaviour Change Research Group at NUI Galway.

Professor Molly Byrne, said: “In Ireland, like in many countries around the world, we are seeing an increasing prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes in the community, linked with growing levels of obesity and lower levels of physical activity. Developing new programmes which people really want to engage with to prevent Diabetes is a priority for our health services.

“Online programmes can overcome some of the challenges affecting face-to-face programmes and we now know from the research that digital health interventions can be effective in increasing physical activity, changing diets and promoting weight loss. Our research which is being conducted in collaboration with the National Programme for Diabetes, will provide really important findings to ensure that online Diabetes Prevention programmes which are developed in Ireland are usable by the people who will benefit most from them.”

For more information about the Diabetes Prevention Study visit, http://www.pret2d.com/survey or to request a paper-based survey with free return postage, contact Luke Van Rhoon at l.vanrhoon1@nuigalway.ie.

All participants will be entered into a draw to win one of two €100 One4All gift cards. There is also the opportunity to participate in a follow-up phone or video interview study, if participants choose to do so. 

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