01
Diabetes research
Research may focus on prevention, technology, treatments or understanding the condition.
Evidence to look forRead the research strategy and completed-project findings rather than funding totals alone.
Find your cause · Make an informed choice
Diabetes charities in the UK
Diabetes charities support people living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and fund research into treatment and prevention.
Quick answer
How do I compare diabetes charities?
Diabetes charities can support research, education, campaigning and people living with diabetes. Check whether the programme covers type 1, type 2 or another focus, and distinguish research funding from practical services available today.
Start with the work
What do diabetes charities do?
The same cause can involve very different services. Use these distinctions to choose what you want to support, then compare organisations doing similar work.
02
Information and education
Resources and courses may address different age groups or types of diabetes.
Evidence to look forCheck the intended audience, professional review and accessibility.
03
Community support and advocacy
Peer support and campaigns can address barriers to living with diabetes.
Evidence to look forLook for participant feedback and specific changes achieved, with dates and limitations.
Choosing diabetes charities to support
Begin with the difference you want your donation to make. A useful shortlist brings together your priorities, the charity’s actual programme and evidence you can check.
1. Match the organisation and appeal
Check the registered name, charity number and official contact details on the profile and regulator link. Confirm that the appeal and payment destination belong to that organisation. Similar names, local branches and international affiliates can represent different legal entities.
2. Read the evidence for the programme
Look for a defined goal, the people or places reached, the reporting period and what changed. Ask whether the figures count unique people, repeated contacts or activities. Read limitations and follow-up, and distinguish a charity’s own report from an independent evaluation.
3. Compare finances in context
Check the accounts year, income, expenditure, reserves where disclosed and current registration context. Research grants, direct services and campaigning have different cost structures. Missing data does not mean zero spending, and a low overhead ratio does not prove stronger results.
4. Check the terms of your gift
Establish whether a donation supports general work or a named appeal. Check restrictions, what happens if plans change and any ongoing commitment before giving. Follow a trusted official link and keep the confirmation so you can refer back to the stated terms.
Sources and selection notes
Organisation descriptions below support the attributed examples and provider information. The comparison questions are CharityCompare’s editorial guidance. Financial data comes from the dated filings identified on each profile. Read our editorial responsibilities and interests and request a sourced correction.
Financial evidence
Compare diabetes charity ratings
7 currently rated matches. Ordered by financial and disclosure score, with equal scores listed alphabetically. This is not a ranking of impact. Payment never changes scores. Matches use registered names and reported activities; confirm the particular programme on each profile.
| Charity | Score | Cause spend | Income | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE BLACKTHORN TRUST | 95 | 93% | £693k | Local |
| MEDICAL DETECTION DOGS | 94 | 86% | £2.1m | UK-wide |
| Action4Diabetes | 84 | 94% | £548k | Local |
| DIABETES RESEARCH & WELLNESS FOUNDATION | 82 | 83% | £1.3m | UK-wide |
| JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION LIMITED | 78 | 65% | £8.0m | UK-wide |
| THE BRITISH DIABETIC ASSOCIATION | 68 | 74% | £38m | UK-wide |
| THE INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES TRUST | 48 | N/D | £476k | UK-wide |
Explore further
More diabetes charity profiles
42 additional basic profiles match our registered-name search, with up to 12 shown alphabetically. These profiles do not have a Clarity Score. A name match alone does not establish relevance, service availability or effectiveness.
- Asian Diabetic AssociationRegistered charity № 1057109
- Brighton and District Young Diabetic's Parents GroupRegistered charity № 291406
- British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and DiabetesRegistered charity № 1135319
- Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Research ( C E D a R )Registered charity № 1078664
- Children with Diabetes and Their Parents Wellness FoundationRegistered charity № 1201274
- Children with Diabetes UKRegistered charity № 1199845
- Diabetes Aid for SenegalRegistered charity № 1124862
- Diabetes and RamadanRegistered charity № 1200493
- Diabetes Care Trust (Abcd) LimitedRegistered charity № 1139057
- Diabetes FoundationRegistered charity № 292317
- Diabetes Outreach Prevention Programmes International (Doppsi)Registered charity № 1182517
- Diabetes ReliefRegistered charity № 1183390
Diabetes charities: your questions answered
Does donating to diabetes research give access to treatment?
No. A donation does not establish eligibility for a study or treatment. Research participation and clinical care have their own criteria and professional routes. Check the provider’s official information separately.
What do diabetes charity ratings tell me?
CharityCompare Clarity Scores summarise financial and disclosure measures from the dated filings shown on each profile. They do not establish programme effectiveness, clinical quality or the suitability of a service for an individual. Read the accounts period, missing-data notes and regulatory context before using a score.
How are charities included in this comparison?
Rated profiles are matched against registered names and activities reported on the register; basic profiles are matched by registered name. These automated matches can miss relevant work or include a different focus. Our 7 rated matches and 42 additional basic matches are not an official UK-wide count. Check each charity’s actual activities.