Research team wins local Inclusion Award for supporting people with intellectual disabilities

Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) colleagues working on the 'My Diabetes and Me' (MDAM) study have won a Special Recognition Award at University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) NHS Trust's Inclusion Awards 2024 for their work developing and researching the effectiveness of the DESMOND-ID programme. 

People with an intellectual disability (ID; learning disability) are often excluded from research involvement, despite experiencing significant health inequalities. The MDAM team have worked tirelessly to help support people with intellectual disabilities to become meaningfully included in research.

The MDAM team have developed a diabetes self-management education programme called DESMOND-ID, following a successful research funding application led by Laurence Taggart, Professor of Intellectual Disability Research at Ulster University.

The programme is specifically tailored for adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities and also enables involvement of the people who support them (carer, family, friend). DESMOND-ID helps support adults with intellectual disabilities and type 2 diabetes (and their supporters) to better manage their type 2 diabetes and bring about potential health benefits.

The MDAM research study is testing the effectiveness of the DESMOND-ID education programme compared to usual care, as part of a multi-centre trial. The development of this research study in Leicester has been led by Dr Alison Dunkley, Dr Alison Dunkley, Lecturer/Nurse Researcher, Vicki Johnson, Physiotherapist and Lead Research Associate, Carol Robinson, Research Nurse, and Maria Augustine, Research Nurse.

Nominator, Sally Schreder, Assistant Director for LDC Research Operations, explains: "The team went above and beyond to support potential participants to access the study at UHL, whilst also being actively involved in training diabetes and learning disabilities teams across the UK to deliver the DESMOND-ID programme and sharing learning with the other research sites." 

DESMOND is a suite of group and digital self-management programmes for people with, or at risk of developing, type 2 diabetes, developed by experts at Leicester Diabetes Centre. The DESMOND programmes are evidence-based and grounded in the latest research and clinical guidance.

For further information about My Diabetes and Me, visit: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/research/topic/nursing-and-health/caring-for-people-with-complex-needs/research-themes/neurodevelopmental/desmond-id