Over 13 million people in the UK are thought to have pre-diabetes. People with pre-diabetes have a higher-than-normal level of sugar in their blood but haven’t been diagnosed with full diabetes.

Lots of people don’t know that they are prediabetic. Jan explains, “It was only through my annual blood test that they picked up that I was prediabetic”.

Another participant describes her surprise, “I’ve never had a sweet tooth, so I was surprised to find out from the GP in a regular blood test that I was prediabetic.”

In 2022, our researchers at the Quadram Institute together with clinical staff launched the BETA study to understand how eating broccoli over time affects the blood sugar levels of people with pre-diabetes. Previous research had suggested that certain foods like broccoli could help to normalise high blood sugar levels when eaten over a large amount of time.

Lots of people who took part in the BETA study were recruited through GP surgeries.

When a participant heard about the BETA study, she decided to take part. “If there was anything I could do to change my status of prediabetic by altering my diet I was keen to try it;” she says.

Currently there are limited treatment options for prediabetes. Mukesh reflects, “I was diagnosed as prediabetic in 2003 and ever since every year the doctor says to me, I’m very close to being fully diagnosed diabetic. So, when I heard about the study I decided to take part.”

Jan describes her experience, “I was right on the cusp of eligibility in terms of my blood sugar levels for taking part. I felt like I’d taken an exam and passed when I was taken onto the study.”

What did the BETA study involve?

The BETA study was a 36-week trial split into three 12-week periods where participants were given broccoli and courgette soups to include in their diet.

“It was a double-blind study with taking different soups, so you didn’t know which was which,” explains participant Suzanne.

“What I really liked about the study was that the expectations were set out very clearly from the start,” reflects another participant.

Along with eating the soups three times a week, participants visited the state-of-the-art Clinical Research Facility here at the Quadram Institute. Here they had blood tests along with a glucose tolerance test, which involved drinking a sugary drink to measure how their glucose levels responded.

“I found the glucose test a bit unpleasant but it was OK. It was too sweet for me,” reflects Participant Suzanne.

“The night before the glucose tolerance test we were asked to fast. The colour of the glucose drunk was a bit off-putting but it was fine. It was just the size of a small cup of water,” adds participant Jan.

Did the soup taste nice?

The soups came in powdered form and required hot water. Participant Mary explains, “I found it a wee bit difficult to mix sometimes but by the second batch I’d got the swing of it.”

The powdered form of soup made it easy or participants to take part on the study even if they were travelling away, as participant Suzanne remarks, “I took my soups to Paris!”

“Having the soup was a bonus because they were both really nice and I felt like I was doing something healthy. It also wasn’t too overwhelming because you only had the soup three times a week,” says another participant.

Reflecting on the soups being double blinded, she continues says, “They did a great job of making it hard to tell which is which. I’m so fickle, I thought the first soup had got to be broccoli. Then after the three-month gap, I thought that second soup was even more tasty, this has got to be the broccoli soup!”

But the soups were not everyone’s taste, “The only thing about the soup was that it was bland. But I added spices to it,” explains Mukesh.

Jane reflects, “Broccoli soup isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But one of the long term benefits is knowing that research is being done to help people with diabetes.”

Visiting the Quadram Institute

Many of those who took part in the BETA had never visited the Quadram Institute or taken part in research before.

“It was the first time I’d been to the Quadram Institute. It’s lovely and very welcoming Dr Jennifer Ahn-Jarvis is part of a lovely team who looked after me. It was very comfortable all round,” says Suzanne.

Another participant adds, “All the rooms are very spacious, and the staff are so friendly and professional. You feel like you were part of something much bigger, just a very small cog in a giant mechanism of research. You really feel that when you walk into the building.”

“Although the Quadram Institute is big, when you get here it’s a very friendly and cozy environment. If I’ve had any questions, staff are always happy to answer and they have such a calm friendly answer,” reflects Participant Mary.

Jan continues, “Everyone is so skilled, focused and friendly. Everyone really wants to make it work. They kept checking in to ask if I was feeling OK and if I wanted to continue with each step of the study. Part of the study involved being weighed, and the team were so sensitive about the way they did that.”

Impact on participants beyond the study

Researchers are currently working on analysing the data from the BETA study to understand how broccoli affects blood sugar levels in those with prediabetes.

But in the meantime, many of those that took part in the BETA study have seen wider impacts after taking part.

“I’m following a better diet after taking part in the study,” says one participant.

Jan explains, “Doing the food diary made me more aware of what I am eating. Now I’m thinking more about which foods I’m eating and how to incorporate more vegetables into my meals.”

Jane highlights one change she has made since the study, “I switched from white bread to brown bread and from full fat milk to skimmed milk.”

Inspiring others to take part in research

“This was the first time I’ve taken part in research and I’m looking now at taking part in other studies now”, says Mukesh.

Shila adds, “We’ve recommended to friends to take part in research.”

Jan concludes, “I’m glad I’ve had a chance to share my experience of the study as well as taking part in the BETA study. It’s not rocket science, but it’s bioscience!”