Dr Michelle Hadjiconstantinou

Dr Michelle Hadjiconstantinou is a Behavioural Scientist and a Chartered Psychologist at the Leicester Diabetes Centre and the University of Leicester. She is a faculty member at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and is the Academic Lead of the complex intervention team and DESMOND at the Leicester Diabetes Centre.

After obtaining her PhD in 2018, which focused on the development of a digital-based programme to improve wellbeing in type 2 diabetes, she gained her status as a Chartered Psychologist by the British Psychological Society, a professional status which recognises a high standard of psychological knowledge and expertise in health research and practice.

Dr Hadjiconstantinou applies her academic expertise in applied and clinical research, collaborating with both methodologists and clinical academics nationally and internationally. She holds 15 years of research experience in health, particularly long-term conditions prevention and lifestyle interventions, and holds a well-established portfolio in qualitative research methods.

Her research contributes to the ongoing improvement of the emotional wellbeing and quality of life of people living with type 2 diabetes and other long-term conditions, creating real-world impact to self-care and self-management.

Her main interests are in psychosocial aspects of long-term conditions, behaviour change, intervention development and process evaluation.

In addition to her research capacity, she also co-leads the Self-Management module for the University of Leicester MSc Diabetes course, and supervises MSc and PhD students.

Michelle's research areas cover key topics including behaviour change, self-management and psychosocial aspects in long-term conditions. 

Past and current research projects:

Title: Mixed-methods exploratory study to understand diabetes-related stigma in early-onset type 2 diabetes (2025)
Grant: NOVO Nordisk
Role: Lead Applicant

Title: To explore the uptake, engagement and implementation of a digital package for early onset type 2 diabetes: a mixed-methods study
Grant: Diabetes UK
Role: Lead Applicant

Title: Supporting Your Pregnancy Programme: developing and piloting a digital-based self-management education tool to improve pregnancy outcomes in EOT2D
Grant: Diabetes UK
Role: Co-Lead writer of the application, Co-Applicant and Work Package Lead

Title: Addressing health inequalities through translation - Exploring Urdu-language delivery of the DIAMONDS self-management intervention to people from South Asian communities who have severe mental illness and type 2 diabetes
Grant: NIHR Programme Development Grant (PDG)
Role: Co-Investigator

Title: Enhancing a type 2 diabetes digital-based offering for the South Asian and Black ethnic minority groups 
Grant: NIHR Programme Development Grant
Role: Lead writer of the application and Co-investigator

Title: Develop feasibility study based on collaborative chronic care model
Grant: NIHR Global Health Research
Role: Co-Investigator and Work Package Lead

Title: The clinical and cost-effectiveness of the DESMOND-ID education programme for adults with
intellectual disability and Type 2 Diabetes
Grant: HTA
Role: Co-Investigator and Work Package Lead

Title:  Developing and Evaluating A Multifactorial Intervention to Improve Cardiovascular Outcomes in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes and Current or Previous Diabetic Foot Ulcers (MiFoot)
Grant: NIHR PGfAR  
Role: Co-Investigator and Work Package Lead

Title:  Mixed methods study exploring the impact of hybrid closed-loop systems on patient reported outcomes in people with type I diabetes and their partners
Grant: JDRF
Role: Co-Investigator and Work Package Lead

Title: Space Technology Exercise Prescription Programme, P-STEP study
Grant: European Space Agency (ESA)
European Centre for Satellite Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) 
Role: Co-Investigator

Title:  Develop core self-management modules to transform myDESMOND into a digital offering
Grant: NOVO Nordisk
Role: Work Package Lead

Title: Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) in 16 – 40 year olds: A Multifactorial Management Intervention to Address Multimorbidity in Early-Onset T2D in Adults (The M3 Research Programme)
Grant: NIHR PGfAR (NIHR201165)
Role: Co-Investigator and Work Package Lead

Title: RESET: REmission of diabetes and improved diastolic function by combining Structured Exercise with meal replacemenT and food reintroduction
Grant: MRC  
Role: Co-Investigator and Work Package Lead

Title: Extending self-management structured education to those with type 2 Diabetes in low-to middle income countries (Malawi and Mozambique)
Grant Reference: IRDF ODA  
Role: Lead Co-Applicant

Selected publications are listed below:

• Hagan J., Davies MJ, Speight, J, Hadjiconstantinou M. Stigma associated with early-onset type 2 diabetes: A secondary qualitative analysis. Br J Health Psychol. 2025 doi: 10.1111/bjhp.70042.

• Brown, J; Carswell, C; Podmore, D; Featherstone, I; Alderson, S; Böhnke, JR; Doran, T; Hadjiconstantinou, M; Hewitt, CE; Holt, RIG; Jacobs, R; Johnson, V; Kellar, I; Li, J; Osborn, DP; Russell, G; Watson, J; Siddiqi, N & Coventry, PA on behalf of the DIAMONDS Research Team. The DIAMONDS intervention for type 2 diabetes for people with severe mental illness: Findings from a single-group feasibility study. Frontiers in Health Services. 2025 doi: 10.3389/frhs.2025.1688787

• Hadjiconstantinou M, Trevena P, Schreder S, Bodicoat D, Davies MJ. The acceptability of virtual diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) in type 2 diabetes: an explorative qualitative study. Patient Education and Counceling, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2025.109401 

• Pritchard R, Davies MJ, Slater T, Barer F, Czyznikowska B, Akroyd C, Patel K, Sargeant J, Hadjiconstantinou M, Rowntree H, Goldney J, Wilmot E, Misra S and Darko N. Research Involvement and Involvement of underserved 18-40 year olds living with early-onset type 2 diabetes in the M3 NIHR programme grant. Research Engagement and Involvement. 2025. doi.org/10.1186/s40900-025-00799-9 

• Khavere S. Hadjiconstantinou M, et al. Effectiveness of self-management interventions on type 2 diabetes among young adults 18-45 years: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetic Medicine. 2025. doi: 10.1111/dme.70127.

• Caba M., Davies M., Khunti K, Northern A., Hadjiconstantinou M. Type 2 diabetes risk communication following a diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus: a qualitative study. Diabetic Medicine. 2025. doi: 10.1111/dme.70105

• Chauhan R, Davies MJ, May C, Speight J, Hadjiconstantinou M. Using Normalisation Process Theory to Understand Implementation of Effective Early-onset type 2 diabetes Treatment and Care within England: a qualitative study. BMC Healthcare services. 2025. doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12616-w

• Godley J, Alabraba V, Sarkar P, Morgan H, Hamza M, Skarlatos M, Slater, Sargeant J, O'Callaghan R, Hadjiconstantinou M, Burdon J, Farooqi A, Seidu S, Meek C, Davies MJ. Designing a regional clinical service for people with early-onset type 2 diabetes in England. Diabetic Medicine. 2024. doi: 10.1111/dme.15479

• Highton P, Jeffers S, Butt A, O'Mahoney L, Jenkins L, Abdala R, Haddon L, Gillies C,  Curtis F, Hadjiconstantinou M, Khunti K. Patient‐reported outcomes in diabetes‐related foot conditions: Is patient experience influenced by ethnicity? A mixed‐methods systematic review. Diabetic Medicine. 2024. doi: 10.1111/dme.15420

• Wooley A. Hadjiconstantinou M, Bodicoat D, Khunti K, Davies MJ and Seidu S. A cross sectional time series of cardiometabolic health education format preferences across sociodemographic groups. Diabetic Medicine. 2024. doi: 10.1111/dme.15404

• Edwardson C, Maylor B, Biddle S, Clarke-Cornwell A, Clemes S, Davies MJ, Dunstan D, Granat M, Gray L, Hadjiconstantinou M, Healy G, Mandalia P, Munir F, Richardson G, Yates T, Eborall H. Participant and workplace champion experiences of an intervention designed to reduce sitting time in desk-based workers: SMART Work & Life. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2023. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01539-6

• Barker MM, Chauhan R, Davies MJ, Brough C, Northern A, Stribling B, Schreder S, Khunti K, Hadjiconstantinou M. User Retention and Engagement in the Digital-Based Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed (myDESMOND) Program: Descriptive Longitudinal Study JMIR Diabetes 2023. doi: 10.2196/44943

• Barker M, Davies MJ, Zaccardi F, Brady E, Hall A, Henson J, Khunti K, Lake A, Redman E, Rowlands A, Speight J, Yates T, Sargeant J, and Hadjiconstantinou M. Age at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and depressive symptoms, diabetes-specific distress and self-compassion. Diabetes Care. 2022. doi: 10.2337/dc22-1237

• Lamptey R, Davies M, Khunti K, Schreder S, Stribling B, Hadjiconstantinou M. Cultural adaptation of a diabetes self‑management education and support (DSMES) programme for two low resource urban settings in Ghana, during the COVID‑19 era BMC Health Services Research. 2022. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-08390-8

• Olson J.L., Hadjiconstantinou M., Luff C., Watts K., Watson N., Wagstaff A., Miller V., Schofield D., Calginari S. From the UK to Australia: Adapting an online self-management education program to support the management of type 2 diabetes: A tutorial. J Med Internet Res.2021. doi: 10.2196/26339

• Brady E., Bamuya C, Beran D, Correia JC, Crampin AC, Damasceno A, Davies MJ, Hadjiconstantinou M, Harrington D. et al. EXTending availability of self-management structured EducatioN programmes for people with type 2 Diabetes in low-to-middle income countries (EXTEND) – A feasibility study in Mozambique and Malawi. BMJ Open, 2021. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047425

• Lake A., Bo A., Hadjiconstantinou M. Developing and evaluating behaviour change interventions for people with younger-onset type 2 diabetes: lessons and recommendations from existing programmes. Current Diabetes Reports. 2021. doi: 10.1007/s11892-021-01432-1

• Bamuya C, Correia JC, Brady EM, Beran D, Harrington D, Damasceno A, Crampin AM, Magaia A, Levitt N, Davies MJ, Hadjiconstantinou M.  Use of the Socio-ecological model to explore factors that influence the implementation of a diabetes structured education programme (EXTEND project) in Lilongwe, Malawi and Maputo, Mozambique: a qualitative study. BCM Public Health, 21, 1355, 2021. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11338-y

• Harrington D, Brady E, Blueher S, Edwardson C, Gray L, Hadjiconstantinou M, Jarvis J, Khunti K, Vergara I, Erregerena I, Ribeiro R, Troughton K, Vazeou A, Davies MJ. Development of an interactive lifestyle programme for adolescents at risk of developing type 2 diabetes: PRE-STARt. Children editorial, 8, 69, 2021. doi.org/10.3390/children8020069

• Hadjiconstantinou M, Quinn L, Tippins F, Schreder S, Khunti K, Davies MJ. A perspective piece on Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) programmes for under-represented groups with T2DM in the UK. British Journal of Diabetes, 21, 2021. doi.org/10.15277/bjd.2021.278

• Correia JC, Lopes A, Nhabali A, Madrigal V, Errasti CR, Brady E, Hadjiconstantinou M, Perolini MC. Implementation and evaluation of a specialized diabetes clinic in Guinea Bissau: lessons learnt from the field. Pan African Medical Journal 2020; 37: 10.11604/pamj.2020.37.126.26127. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2020.37.126.26127

• Quinn L, Davies MJ, Hadjiconstantinou M. Virtual Consultations: Considerations for the Role of Technology During the Covid-19 Pandemic for People With Type Two Diabetes-UK Perspective. J Med Internet Res 2020;22(8):e2160. doi: 10.2196/21609

• Hadjiconstantinou M, Schreder S, Brough C, Northern A, Stribling B, Khunti K, Davies MJ. Using intervention mapping to develop a digital self-management programme for people with type 2 diabetes: MyDESMOND.  J Med Internet Res 2020;22(5):e17316. doi: 10.2196/17316

• Carey ME, Barnett J, Doherty Y, Barnard K, Daly H, French P, Gossage-Worrall R, Hadjiconstantinou M, Hind D, Mitchell J, Northern A, Pendlebury J, Rathod S, Shiers D, Taylor C, Holt R. Reducing weight gain in people with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and first episode psychosis: describing the process of developing the STructured lifestyle Education for People With SchizophrEnia (STEPWISE) intervention. Pilot and Feasibility studies, 2018, 4 (186). doi: 10.1186/s40814-018-0378-1.

• Mani H, Chudasama Y, Hadjiconstantinou M, Bodicoat D, Edwardson C, Levy M, Gray L, Barnett J, Daly H, Howlett T, Khunti K, Davies MJ. Structured education programme for women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomised controlled trial. Endocrine Connections, 2018, 7 (1), pp 26-35. doi: 10.1530/EC-17-0274

• Hadjiconstantinou M, Mani H, Patel N, Levy M, Davies MJ, Khunti K, Stone MA. Understanding and supporting women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a qualitative study in an ethnically diverse UK sample. Endocrine Connections, 2017, 6 (323), pp 323-330. doi: 10.1530/EC-17-0053

• Hadjiconstantinou M, Byrne J, Bodicoat DH, Robertson N, Eborall H, Khunti K, Davies MJ. Do Web-Based Interventions Improve Well-Being in Type 2 Diabetes? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Med Internet Res 2016;18(10):e270. doi: 10.2196/jmir.5991

• Patel N., Stone MA., Hadjiconstantinou M., Troughton J., Martin-Stacey L., Daly H., Carey M., Hiles S., Davies MJ., Khunti K. Using an interactive DVD about type 2 diabetes and insulin therapy in a UK South Asian community and in patient education and healthcare provider training. Patient Education and Counseling. 2015; 98, pp 1123-1130. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2015.04.018

Michelle is a supervisor to the following PhD students:

Ellen Hopwood - Self-management support in patients with multiple long-term conditions in the post-COVID-19 era (Complete)

Priscilla Katapa - Understanding barriers to insulin initiation in people with T2D from ethnic minority populations: A mixed-methods study to inform the development of a community champion led intervention

Sonia Khavere - Adapt and pilot a digital-based self-management programme for young adults with type 2 diabetes and multi-morbidity

Johanna Ebosa - Dispelling nutrition misconceptions among Nigerian adults living with type 2 diabetes: an intervention development study

Swornim - An Intervention to Reduce the Burden of Caregivers for Individuals with Multiple Long-Term Conditions (MLTCs) in Nepal: A Feasibility Study

Duha Azwai - Leicester Lifestyle and Health Research Group: Evaluation of two digital health interventions for people with long term conditions