A Digital Intervention To Reduce Diabetes Distress

PI Title: Jamie Ross

Lead member: QMUL

What Is This Project About?
This project is about helping people with type 2 diabetes who feel stressed or overwhelmed by managing their condition. This type of emotional strain is called diabetes distress and it is thought to impact one in three people who have diabetes.
Living with diabetes can be tough—it involves making many lifestyle changes. These demands can cause frustration, stress, and even burnout, making it harder to manage diabetes effectively. Sadly, there aren’t many NHS services designed to help people cope with this emotional pressure.
To fix this we plan to adapt an existing digital health tool called “Healthy Paths”. Our adaptations will focus on helping people manage their feelings about living with diabetes. We want to make sure it works well for everyone, especially for those more at risk of type 2 diabetes and diabetes distress. We will also focus on understanding how best this tool can be offered to people with type 2 diabetes through the NHS.

How Will We Do This?
We will work closely with people with diabetes and healthcare professionals (HCPs) to design this tool. We will use their feedback to make sure the tool is helpful, easy to use, and accessible for everybody. The project will happen in three work packages (WP):
1. WP1: We will look at other research to find out what makes digital tools for diabetes distress helpful.
2. WP2: We will speak to people with type 2 diabetes from different backgrounds and HCPs to learn what they need
from the tool
3. WP3: We will run workshops and interviews where people with type 2 diabetes and HCPs can test the tool and give feedback.

Who Will Be Involved?
We will work with people with type 2 diabetes who are often underserved by existing support. This includes people from ethnic minority backgrounds, those on lower incomes, and people who have difficulty using digital health tools. This ensures we develop something truly accessible and inclusive for those who need it most. We will also involve health professionals
who deliver care to people with type 2 diabetes.

What Difference Will This Project Make?
This project will make it easier for people with type 2 diabetes to manage their emotional well-being, filling a gap in support that many currently struggle with. Our digital tool will be:
• Always available – offering support anytime, anywhere.
• Easy to use and personalised – designed to meet diverse needs.
• Culturally inclusive – ensuring everyone feels represented.
This means better support and less stress in managing diabetes. For the NHS, it provides an easy-to-access tool, helping relieve pressure on healthcare services. In the long run, it could reduce health inequalities, improve diabetes care, and enhance overall well-being.