The Scottish government's Chief Scientist Office is providing $305,000 to finance a 16-week trial involving 60 volunteers. Researchers based in Inverness and Aberdeen will conduct the study, the BBC reported Friday.

The oats-diabetes study was organized by researchers at the University of the Highlands and Islands, the University of Aberdeen and the Rowett Institute.

"The aim is to develop new dietary plans which could improve diabetes control, delay the need for people with type 2 diabetes to start tablets or insulin to control their blood sugar, and potentially reduce the risk of some of the complications of diabetes," said UHI Professor Sandra MacRury, who works at the school's Department of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Science.