Artistic PhD student pens animated message for World Diabetes Day

A diabetes researcher at our University has combined science with art to produce a powerful awareness-raising message for World Diabetes Day.

Michelle Hadjiconstantinou, a PhD student and researcher based at the Leicester Diabetes Centre, turned to her artistic side to create a short animation aimed at highlighting the challenges posed by Type 2 diabetes.

The project, produced using a technique called ‘RSA animation’ where people draw on camera to a voiceover, was completed as part of Michelle’s doctorate into developing web-based interventions to improve the wellbeing of people with Type 2 diabetes.

It has been released ahead of this year’s World Diabetes Day, which raises awareness of both Type 1 and 2 diabetes and takes place every November 14.

The film, which is based on findings from published research and is available on YouTube, explains what Type 2 diabetes is and describes what happens to the body when people get the condition, including the physiological changes.