More than two million people in the UK are known to have diabetes — that’s about three in every 100 people. And there are an estimated one million people in the UK who have diabetes but don't know it. Over three-quarters of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes.

In order to develop a better understanding of new diabetes treatments, of care delivery methods and of ways for learning about diabetes, it is necessary to conduct research.

Such research is not only about discovering new knowledge, but also about gaining understanding of how that knowledge can be used, how it affects patients' experiences of living with diabetes, and how we can measure those effects.

It provides evidence that helps to guide the practice of care, improves the quality of delivered services and enables healthcare providers to give better value for money.

Our purpose is to enable people with diabetes to live healthily with a complex, progressive and lifelong condition. We achieve this through:

• undertaking applied research
• providing and promoting education
• developing resources and people networks.