Diabetes UK
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Diabetes UK funds research into all types of diabetes, so the fit only works if your project is research.
- Only applicants based at not-for-profit UK-based academic or NHS institutions may submit proposals, so if your organisation is not one of these, this funder is not open to you.
- No grant range is stated, so ask the charity what size of award to expect before shaping a budget; its research grants include research projects, early career small grants, fellowships and studentships.
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are assessed by external peer reviewers for relevance to diabetes, scientific merit, feasibility and value for money, so address those four points directly in your proposal.
Overview
Diabetes UK is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 215199).
Diabetes UK exists to improve lives by funding pioneering research into all forms of diabetes and its complications. It is currently funding around 120 research projects and invests £6 million into new diabetes research every year. Its giving spans grants, fellowships, studentships, strategic awards and co-funding opportunities, and it paid £8,841,000 in its latest annual report.
What they fund
Priority Areas
Diabetes UK funds wide-ranging research into the causes, prevention and treatment of all types of diabetes and its complications, seeking better ways to care for and support people living with diabetes, new treatments, and a deeper understanding of diabetes and how to cure or prevent it. Its research grants include research projects, early career small grants, fellowships and studentships. Applicants may submit proposals from not-for-profit UK-based academic or NHS institutions. Applications are assessed by external peer reviewers for relevance to diabetes, scientific merit, feasibility and value for money, and people living with or caring for someone with diabetes are involved in funding processes. The charity focuses on impactful research addressing issues that matter most to people affected by diabetes.
Themes
- Diabetes research
Geographic Focus
UK.
What they don't fund
- Applicants not based at not-for-profit UK-based academic or NHS institutions
How to apply
Diabetes UK invites applications for research projects, early career small grants, fellowships and studentships through open advertising to the research community by email, relevant websites, social media and partners. Proposals may be submitted by applicants based at not-for-profit UK-based academic or NHS institutions.
Who can apply:
- Applicants based at not-for-profit UK-based academic or NHS institutions may submit proposals.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- Applications are assessed by external peer reviewers for relevance to diabetes, scientific merit, feasibility and value for money.
- People living with or caring for someone with diabetes contribute to funding processes for project and strategic grants, early career small grants and fellowships.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- United Kingdom
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to Diabetes UK.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2020 | £37,655,000 | £36,661,000 | £5,914,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2020 |
| year to 31 December 2021 | £37,884,000 | £37,436,000 | £6,456,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £42,115,000 | £41,950,000 | £6,433,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £42,700,000 | £49,406,000 | £9,771,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £38,402,000 | £44,146,000 | £8,841,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2020; year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2024: grants paid out in the year.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- diabetes.org.uk
- diabetes.org.uk/research/for-researchers/apply-for-a-grant · read on 31 October 2026
- diabetes.org.uk/our-research/for-researchers · read on 31 October 2026
- diabetes.org.uk/our-research/about-our-research · read on 31 October 2026
- diabetes.org.uk/about_us/contact_us · read on 31 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2024)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 31 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to Diabetes UK?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 0345 123 2399source
- helpline@diabetes.org.uksource
- Wells Lawrence House 126 Back Church Lane London E1 1FHsource
- diabetes.org.uk
- Contact form
Applying to Diabetes UK?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 0345 123 2399source
- helpline@diabetes.org.uksource
- Wells Lawrence House 126 Back Church Lane London E1 1FHsource
- diabetes.org.uk
- Contact form