Baker-Deakin Department of Lifestyle and Diabetes

This study explores how working from home versus the office affects activity patterns, lifestyle factors, and work habits in hybrid workers living with type 2 diabetes.

You may be eligible for this study if you are:

• Aged 40-60 years
• Proficient in English
• Are a hybrid desk-based worker, regularly working both from home and the office
• Employed full-time (≥35 hours per week)
• Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for at least six months

Requirements:

The study lasts 8 consecutive days, plus one familiarisation day. During this time, participants will:

• Attend a single lab visit at Deakin Burwood Campus or at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute for familiarisation and baseline measurements, including height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure.
• Wear multiple devices throughout the study, including an accelerometer, blood pressure watch, continuous glucose monitor, activPAL (thigh-worn), and an air quality monitor – all while going about their usual daily activities.
• Complete daily surveys and questionnaires on health behaviours (e.g., smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep, and diet), mental well-being, and workplace-related measures.

Those interested can also participate in an online discussion group about their experience of working from home.

Participants will receive a $25 supermarket gift voucher once they complete the study. Those who participate in the discussion groups will be entered into a lottery to win one of three $100 vouchers.

If you are interested in participating, please click here to complete a brief online screening survey.

For further information, please contact the Project Team: project-hybrid@deakin.edu.au

This study has received Ethics approval from Deakin University (reference number: 2023-315).

You may be suitable for this study if you are:

• Aged between 35-75 years old
• Have normal blood sugar levels
• Not diagnosed with diabetes or heart disease (e.g. heart attack or stroke)

 And have at least one of the following:

• Overweight or obese (i.e. having a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²)
• High blood pressure or on medication to control it
• High cholesterol or on medication to control it
• Have a parent with type 2 diabetes or heart disease
• Prior history of gestational diabetes (for females)

What is required:

Participation in this study involves four visits to Deakin University, Burwood Campus.

The overall time commitment will be around 12 hours spread out over the four visits.

The following tests will be conducted:

• Assessment of general health, diet and physical activity levels
• X-ray scan to determine body composition (fat, muscle and bone)
• Blood pressure and sampling of blood from your arm
• Ingestion of a flavoured milk drink, glucose drink, and infusion of insulin plus glucose into your vein to mimic a meal (on three separate days)
• Optional testing for assessing cardiovascular health

Interested?

For further information about this research, please contact: refine-trial@deakin.edu.au

Participants who complete the trial will receive a gift card

This study is investigating whether 3 months of whole-body vibration exercise at home can improve exercise capacity and blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.

You might be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:

• Aged 40–80 years.
• Have type 2 diabetes and are treated with diet alone or medicated with hypoglycaemic agents (medications to reduce blood glucose) for a minimum of 3 months.
• Weight ≤ 180kg
• Are not taking insulin to control your blood sugar levels.

The following tests will be conducted:

• General health, physical activity and medical history questionnaires.
• Fitness test on a treadmill.
• Ultrasound assessment of the chest and thigh.
• Sampling of blood from your arm.
• Measurement of oxygen consumption with a face mask.
• Whole body X-ray to determine body composition (fat, muscle and bone mass)
• 3-month intervention (home-based vibration exercise)

Participants who complete the trial will receive a $150 gift card or a vibration platform.

This study will be conducted at Deakin University (Burwood campus). This study has received Deakin University ethics approval (reference number: 2022-076).

For further information or to take part in the study, please contact:

Prof Michelle Keske: michelle.keske@deakin.edu.au

Can reducing and breaking up sitting time help glycaemic control in office workers with type 2 diabetes? Recent studies have shown that reducing and breaking up sitting time has beneficial effects on blood glucose control and insulin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. The OPTIMISE your health study will investigate whether a 18-month multi-component intervention targeting reducing and breaking up sitting can help improve glycaemic control in office workers with type 2 diabetes.

Click here for more details:  https://www.baker.edu.au/research/clinical-trials/optimise-study