RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Convenient Home Access for Routine Monitoring in Diabetes (Charm-D Study)

The 'Charm-D Study' is exploring a new way for people with diabetes to have their routine blood tests. Currently, these tests, like the HbA1c (which checks your average blood sugar over 3 months), are done at a clinic with a needle in your arm. This can be inconvenient, costing time and money. This study wants to see if you can do these important tests yourself at home, either with a finger-prick or a small device on your arm. We'll compare these home tests with traditional clinic tests to ensure they are accurate. We'll also ask about your experience to understand how easy it is and if it could be a cost-effective solution for better diabetes management.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Tameside General Hospital

Enrolment target

300

Start

04 Nov 2025

Estimated completion

01 Jul 2026

Diabetes Mellitus

What is this study about?

If you have diabetes, regular checks of your blood sugar control are really important to help prevent future health problems. One key test is called the HbA1c, which shows your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. Knowing this helps your doctor make sure your treatment is working well. Currently, you usually need to visit a clinic, have blood taken from your arm, which might involve travel, taking time off work, and can be inconvenient. Sometimes, these hurdles mean people miss their appointments, and then their doctors don't have the information needed to manage their diabetes effectively.

This study, called 'Charm-D', wants to find a more convenient way to do these important blood tests. We're investigating if you can safely and accurately collect your own blood samples at home. These home-collected samples would then be sent to a lab to check your HbA1c, cholesterol levels, and even your thyroid function. If this works well, it could mean fewer trips to the clinic for routine monitoring, making living with diabetes a little bit easier and ensuring you get the regular check-ups you need.

Ultimately, this research aims to improve how routine diabetes care is delivered, especially for those who find it hard to get to clinics regularly. By exploring home testing, we hope to make managing diabetes more accessible and less disruptive to daily life. We'll also be looking at whether people find this new way of testing acceptable and if it ultimately saves money for the healthcare system.

Key takeaways

Exploring convenient home blood tests for diabetes management.
Compares home blood collection to traditional clinic blood draws.
Tests for blood sugar (HbA1c), cholesterol, and thyroid levels.
Aims to make routine monitoring easier and potentially more accessible.
Participant feedback on ease-of-use is a key part of the study.

Who may be eligible?

You might be able to take part in this study if you are 18 years old or older and have either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. It's important that you can understand English, both spoken and written, so you can follow the study instructions and fill out questionnaires.

You also need to be able to safely take your own blood sample at home. This means being comfortable and capable of using either a finger-prick device or a small device that briefly attaches to your upper arm to collect a small blood sample.

Unfortunately, if you are under 18 or can't understand the study information, you won't be able to join. Also, if you know you wouldn't be able to do the home blood collection reliably, this study might not be suitable for you.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or over?
Do you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes?
Can you understand and speak English?
Are you able to take your own blood sample at home using a finger-prick or a small arm device?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you choose to join the study, you'll first visit the clinic. During this visit, a standard blood sample will be taken from your arm, just like a routine blood test. At the same time, you'll practice taking your own blood sample, either using a finger-prick device or a small device on your upper arm that collects blood. Half of the participants will do the finger-prick, and the other half will use the upper arm device.

Before you leave the clinic, you'll complete a questionnaire about your experience with collecting your own blood sample and how it compares to the traditional clinic blood draw. Then, you'll go home with the same type of blood collection device you used in the clinic. Within two days of your clinic visit, you'll be asked to take another blood sample yourself at home, using the device (either finger-prick or upper arm device).

You will then post this home sample to a central laboratory using a special envelope provided. At the same time you collect the home sample, you'll also fill out another questionnaire. This will help us understand how easy or difficult you found the home testing process and help us assess the overall cost-effectiveness of this approach. There are no study medications involved.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could offer the benefit of potentially simplifying your future diabetes monitoring by exploring a more convenient home-based option. There's also the satisfaction of contributing to research that might improve care for many people with diabetes. Potential risks are generally minor and include slight discomfort or a small bruise from the blood draws, both at the clinic and during home self-collection. There's also the small risk of an inaccurate home test, though the study is designed to assess this. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and it will not affect your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Verified postcode
Ashton-under-Lyne, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is an HbA1c test?

It's a common blood test for people with diabetes that shows your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months.

Will I have to pay to be part of this study?

No, you will not have to pay to participate in the study.

What exactly will be checked in my blood samples?

Your blood samples will be checked for your HbA1c (blood sugar control), cholesterol levels (lipids), and thyroid function.

Do I need to change my diabetes medication for this study?

No, you should continue with your current diabetes medication as prescribed by your doctor throughout the study.

How long will I be involved in the study?

Your active participation involves one clinic visit and one home blood collection within two days of that visit, along with completing two questionnaires.

How to find out more

Edward Jude, MD, FRCP

edward.jude@tgh.nhs.uk +441619224011 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.