Community-based Prevention of Diabetes (ComPoD)

NICE guidance on diabetes prevention recommends the provision of intensive lifestyle interventions to promote changes in diet and physical activity for people at high risk of Type 2 diabetes.  

The proposed study evaluates a new, Community-based Prevention of Diabetes (ComPoD) programme adherent with this guidance that is already operational in four deprived areas in the UK.

The objectives of the study are to provide:

  • A definitive and comprehensive evaluation of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the new programme via a randomised controlled trial at two sites (Devon and Birmingham), including objective measurements of weight and physical activity.
  • A real-world, UK-based test of implementing NICE diabetes prevention guidance and an evidence base for decisions regarding investment in the continuation and possible expansion of this programme. 

The approach is designed to move away from health as disease prevention or cure, to a perception of health as a choice that is available to and accessible by all

ComPoD is testing the effectiveness of the Living Well, Taking Control diabetes prevention intervention funded by The Big Lottery. At the Birmingham site, this intervention is delivered by Health Exchange, which is a local social enterprise. The remit of Health Exchange is to change the context in which health information is delivered to and accessed by all communities. The approach is designed to move away from health as disease prevention or cure, to a perception of health as a choice that is available to and accessible by all.

Health Exchange aims to raise levels of knowledge and awareness of healthy lifestyles, by developing an intelligence delivered through a partnership with the voluntary and community sector. Find more about Health Exchange and the Living Well, Taking Control programme.

Intended outcomes of this research?

Although we know from the NICE guidance that lifestyle change can prevent Type 2 diabetes, there are currently no examples of robustly evaluated ‘real world’ programmes to deliver this effectively and cost-effectively in the UK. The aims of the ComPoD study are to increase physical activity and improve diet to promote weight loss and enhance well-being in adults at high risk for type 2 diabetes. This study is timely in light of current plans to develop and implement a national Diabetes Prevention Programme in the UK.

People involved

  • University of Exeter – Dr Colin Greaves and Dr Jane Smith (co-principal investigators); Rosy Armstrong (Research Assistant)

  • Westbank Healthy Living Centre, Devon – Jaine Keable, Alexis Walsh, Ruby King, Amy Clarke

  • University of Birmingham – Professor Janice Thompson (co-investigator and site lead); Sarah Coleman (Research  Assistant)

  • Health Exchange, Birmingham – Leon Sewell, Sue Turton

  • University of the West of England – Matthew Jones (co-investigator, PI of evaluation grant from The Big Lottery); Michele Kok and Emma Solomon (Research Assistants)

  • ComPoD is funded by the NIHR School for Public Health Research (Download a summary document about this project (PDF)).
    It is registered in the ISRCTN registry of studies (http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN70221670).