A new study is recruiting patients with type 2 diabetes to trial novel medicines, as a new report reveals thousands of people with the disease are facing preventable complications in later life.

The research is being carried out by the Diabetes Department and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), and is looking at two new treatments that control blood sugar levels.

Dr Parth Narendran, who is co-ordinating the research with Research Nurse Barbara Hudson, said: “Diabetes is one of the most serious health problems of our time, as the report from the NHS Information Centre shows.

“People with type 2 diabetes often receive anti-diabetic therapies that do not provide sustained glucose control and may lead to an unacceptable risk of hypoglycaemia and weight gain.

“UHB is seeking people with type 2 diabetes to take part in a new clinical study involving novel treatments for this condition.”

An audit of patients in England and Wales, by the NHS Information Centre, says 800,000 type 1 and type 2 patients have elevated blood sugar levels which could lead to kidney failure, limb amputation and stroke.

It warned that many of the patients were young or middle aged and could require "substantial hospital care in a matter of years".

The report confirmed that the number of cases of diabetes, especially type 2, is increasing – particularly in deprived communities.

Anyone who wants to take part in the UHB study should be over 18 years old, have type 2 diabetes and be treated with one – two oral anti-diabetic drugs (metformin or metformin+pioglitazone).

The recruits will be asked to attend 11 clinic visits and 18 telephone contacts during the 26-week long trial. Patients included in the trial will receive comprehensive care via regular health checks and medical testing as well as blood glucose testing equipment.

For more information, with no obligation, please call the diabetes study team.

Telephone: 0121 204 1587 or 07842 126533