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In late summer 2007 the DiaCarb Diabetes and Nutrition Study is due to commence in the United Kingdom.

This is an international multicentre study including the Netherlands, Spain, and Israel, looking at evaluating the benefits of giving a newly-developed diabetes-specific feed, DiaCarb, developed by Numico, a Dutch-based company to older patients with diabetes who because of dysphagia or other conditions causing poor nutritional status require nutritional support via a PEG or naso-gastric tube. The study is being coordinated by the Diabetes Research Centre for Older People in Luton where Professor Alan Sinclair is Centre Director and UK coordinator for the study.

Nutritional management of patients with diabetes during acute illness has been a relatively neglected area in the past but there is now greater recognition of the importance of glycaemic control, lipid management, and nutritional planning in improving both metabolic control and clinical outcomes. Several publications including a recent systematic review, Elia M, Ceriello A, Sinclair AJ et al, Diabetes Care 2005; 28: 2267-2279, report improved glycaemia and a reduction in postprandial glucose levels in patients with diabetes given diabetes-specific feeds containing higher concentrations of MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acids), fibre, and less carbohydrate.

The international nature of the DiaCarb study requires the recruitment of 20-25 patients in the UK and Prof Sinclair hopes to enlist the help of 10 centres each recruiting 1-2 patients only, making the study feasible and achievable within the timeframe of the study. Subjects will be randomised to receive either DiaCarb or a standard isocaloric enteral feed for 12 weeks, with relatively simple assessments required. The inclusion criteria include:

1. Hospitalised patients or those residing in a care home
2. Requiring at least 6 weeks tube-feeding via a PEG or naso-gastric tube
3. Able to give informed consent

Patients initially hospitalised will require community follow-up after discharge (whether to home or a care home) for the duration of the study. Each recruiting centre will receive over 2000 euros for each patient which can be used to fund future study leave, book purchases, conference travel,etc. Colleagues may wish to enlist the help of a specialist registrar, SpR, to gain some early clinical research experience and all contributions will recognised through any future publication.

If any colleague is interested in talking or learning more about the study or would like to receive a copy of the feasibility questionnaire for the study, please contact Professor Alan Sinclair on 01582 743285 (office) or email him at alan.sinclair@beds.ac.uk