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What is the DIARY study?
We aim to better predict diabetes risk in young Singaporeans. Learn why it matters, what’s involved, and how you can take part.
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Why are we doing this study?
There are four main reasons.
1.
Diabetes is increasingly reported in young individuals (<40 years old).
2.
Younger onset diabetes presents a more aggressive trajectory and leads to earlier accrual of complications.
3.
In a SG study in 2024, 1 in 5 young adults were found to have prediabetes/diabetes despite being lean.
4.
Screening for diabetes <40y only happens opportunistically. Current tools for screening for Asian diabetes are not sufficiently sensitive.
What are we going to do in this study?
To improve the case detection rate of Type 2 Diabetes in young Singaporeans, we plan to:
Aim 1
Conduct a case finding study for diabetes in young Singaporeans aged 21-40y according to age and weight categories.
Aim 2
To identify novel risk factors that help us better predict Asian young onset diabetes in today’s contemporary times.
These include continuous glucose sensor monitoring, body composition and handgrip analyses, and AI-driven sociobehavioural profiling.
What is involved in this study?
You will be asked to fast overnight for 8 hours and to arrive at SGH Diabetes and Metabolism Centre the next morning (9am). You will have the following done:
1. Measurements
Take measurements of your blood pressure (BP), weight, height, and waist-hip circumference ratio.
2. Oral glucose tolerance test
Take a blood sample, consume a sugared drink and another blood sample will be taken 2 hours later. Altogether 1.5 tablespoons of blood will be taken.
3. Subtype diabetes testing and whole gene sequencing
Part of the blood samples will be stored for further testing to subtype diabetes (if applicable). These will also undergo whole gene sequencing.
4. Questionnaire on sociodemographic and educational status, smoking, alcohol intake, dietary intake
This includes information on physical activity, personal and family history of medical conditions.
5. Daily step count
Step count data for the preceding 7 to 30 days will be extracted from your smartphone.
6. Bioimpedance analysis
This is a painless way to measure what your body is made of and involves standing on a special scale and holding onto handles.
7. Handgrip measurements
This measures your muscle strength.
8. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor application onto the back of your upper arm
This measures your tissue glucose every 15 minutes for 14 days. You will keep a food diary on days 2 and 3 of sensor wear.
9. Download of selected social media information
Items not directly containing personal data, posts, photos or stories for up to 1 year preceding the visit will be downloaded. Click to learn more.
10. Keep a food diary (after the visit)
You will need to keep a food diary with photographs of your food/drinks for 2 days, with a small Rubik's cube for scale.
These procedures are expected to take up to 3 hours and require just one visit.
There will be no cost to you for participation. You will receive a small token sum at the end of the study.
Are you between 21–40 years old and Asian/part Asian without diabetes? Join the DIARY study today!
If you're a Singapore resident, aged 21–40y, not pregnant, steroid-free, and not previously known to have diabetes, do sign up! Understand your diabetes risk!
Where are we?
Who are the DIARY study team members?
We are a multidisciplinary team from the Dept of Endocrinology, Data Science and AI Lab (DSAIL) at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), in collaboration with Duke-NUS Medical School.
Dr. Daphne Gardner Tan Su-Lyn
Extensive clinical, research experience in young adult diabetes (YAD), including accurate subtyping to technology implementation.
Dr. Suresh Rama Chandran
Focus on YAD. Expert in CGM-led metrics and analytics, handling large datasets towards clinically meaningful translation.
Dr. Lee Phong Ching
Director of SGH Obesity Centre with vast experience in Asian obesity and its clinical, psychological and social impact on health.
Dr. Sarah Tan Ying Tse
Interest in Asian obesity, SingHealth research grant recipient, Masters of Clinical Investigation candidate at NUS.
Dr. Gerald Sng Gui Ren
Focus on YAD. Data Science Fellow (DSAIL) with Masters of Public Health. Experience in applying AI for clinical work and research.
Dr. Tan Jen Hong
Principal Investigator (DSAIL) for AI-driven analytics, explainable AI. Highly Cited Researcher (Clarivate), top 2% scientist (Stanford Uni).
Dr. Lee Chun Fan
Biostatistician (Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS). Vast experience in trials & epidemiology across wide-ranging areas.
Who are our study coordinators?
Study coordinators are team members who administer the study procedures. They will take you through the steps of the study.
Navreen Kaur
Lead Clinical Research coordinator (CRC) with 10y experience in study startup, management and coordination of multidisciplinary observational studies
Ang Wei Mian
Senior CRC with 6y experience. Vast experience with CGM studies
Lydia Cheong
CRC with 3y experience managing multidisciplinary observational studies, ranging from geriatric-psych to chronic diseases.
Celine Wong Yu Hui
CRC with 4y experience, conducting observational studies across various specialties
May Zin Oo
Senior CRC with 6y experience. Extensive experience in CGM studies.