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Leicester Diabetes Centre awarded International Centre of Excellence award

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Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) has been named an ‘International Centre of Excellence’ and an ‘International Centre of Education’ by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The prestigious accolades were awarded for its leading research, innovation and treatment of type 2 diabetes. The announcement was made during the IDF 2017 Congress held earlier this month in Abu Dhabi. LDC’s co-director Professor Kamlesh Khunti was at the special ceremony to hear the announcement. Professor Khunti, who is also Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester, said: "We are hugely honoured to have been named as an International Centre of Excellence and Education. "It is hugely rewarding to have our hard work recognised and will mean a lot to the rest of the team who work tirelessly all year round. Through the IDF Centre of Excellence and Education, we will continue to pursue our goals to offer the best available options for rapid, accurate prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes." During the congress Prof Khunti was also given the Outstanding Services to Diabetes award having been recognised for his contribution to research and prevention in the condition. IDF's President Shaukat Sadikot presented him with the accolade which recognises the efforts and achievements of individuals within the diabetes community and who have helped promote the organisation's mission and values. During the conference Prof Khunti also unveiled the findings of a major European study into diabetes that he chaired. The 'Integrating Diabetes Evidence into Practice: Challenges and Opportunities to Bridge the Gaps', report involved 38 countries. The findings showed that treating diabetes and related complications is costing European health €143 billion every year. Prof Khunti said: "This report has demonstrated there are substantial European-wide challenges in the implementation of evidence-based practice for healthcare systems, healthcare professionals and people living with diabetes."

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Well done, Leicester. However, having no knowledge of the ethos, practices, research or educative stances of the team involved I am at a loss as to whether congratulations are in order. Anyone have any opinions on what the team promotes/has found at all?
 

It seems like, among other things, the Leicester center's co-director Kamlesh Khunti was chairman of an International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) survey titled "Integrating Diabetes Evidence into Practice: Challenges and Opportunities to Bridge the Gaps" which is mentioned in the OP. Here is an excerpt from the report's summary:

"Responses from the IDF Europe survey indicated that the most common barriers to achieving optimal health for persons with diabetes were poor adherence to medication or lifestyle change, limited patient/family skills to properly manage diabetes, lack of/poor empowerment of person with diabetes and poor family education.

"Adherence was the most important component of diabetes management identified. Review evidence generally showed low adherence to medication (less than 20% in some studies). Adherence to lifestyle change appeared to be somewhat higher. Around half (50%) of study participants reported that they made dietary changes, and between 17% and 70% of participants across studies reported that they adhered to physical activity recommendations.

"Barriers reported in the literature included treatment costs, patient reluctance to use insulin, medication burden, and fear of complications. The most frequently discussed themes on social media in relation to diabetes were support, education and access to care or medication (‘accessibility’). The most common negative sentiments related to support, education and costs for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Education also featured highly (it was the second most common theme) in the open responses from IDF Europe organisations."

However it would be good to hear more about the Leicester center's work, other than the above-mentioned study that Prof. Khunti chaired....

(Edited later to fix typo.)
 
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Thank you. From the first couple of paragraphs in the report I get the distinct feeling tha patient blaming is going on i.e non adherence etc. Perhaps if patients were given hope instead of a beating with the stick then the carrot might work. However, the carrot must be of the variety suited to the patient. So am I right that they got an award for coming to the conclusion that T2 Diabetics are generally not doing so well on the current dietary/medication regime? No **** Sherlock, is what I say.
 
Guzzler said:
So am I right that they got an award for coming to the conclusion that T2 Diabetics are generally not doing so well on the current dietary/medication regime? No **** Sherlock, is what I say.
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It is not clear that the Leicester center got the award only because of that IDF survey that their co-director chaired. I am rather assuming that they got the award for the excellence of the center's work in general, but that the award ceremony and meeting in Abu Dhabi were also a good venue for IDF to announce the results of the survey.

As for the survey itself, yes, I think your characterization of their conclusions seems about right, based on the summary that I looked over! Mind you, I don't think it does any harm for the medical community to remind itself just how poorly treated diabetes patients are -- not just in one country but Europe-wide in this case.

What matters for the future is what they choose to do with that information....
 
I agree, if it leads all those boffins to come to the obvious conclusion that *Something* isn't working then all to the good. Fingers crossed.
 
Guzzler said:
I agree, if it leads all those boffins to come to the obvious conclusion that *Something* isn't working then all to the good. Fingers crossed.
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One of the interesting aspects of diabetes, especially Type 2, is that it appears to be widely known among the medical professionals that (in their jargon) "compliance" by the patients (to just about any "treatment" option) is poor. The issue for me is whether they are prepared to make the imaginative leap to proceed to, "we must be doing something wrong." Some of them (most of them?) just can't do that, they have a stereotype of the T2D as lazy/weak-willed so they can conveniently shift the blame elsewhere.

Good night.
 
Again, I agree. From my own experience my DNs attitude completely changed on seeing my A1c results from threatening/patronising to surprise/disinterest. She is a nice woman and I got the feeling that she cares about her patients but was unable or unwilling to put her head above the parapet.
My GP seems to be in favour of my choices re Diabetes but I cannot get him to shut up about cholesterol levels long enough to have a proper conversation about said choices!
 
I have had the same experience as you @Guzzler.I have a friend who's son is a consultant at Leicester for type 2.Ill contact her and see if I can get more information.Shes not diabetic herself but knew about the LCHF diet and had good things to say about it.If I get more information Ill get back to the forum.
 
I have been to the Leicester Diabetes Centre many, many times. It shares a building, almost seamlessly with the Leicester unit of the National Institute for Health and Research (NIHR), where I tend to be more involved.

It really is a wonderful place, and my very first visit there changed how I viewed many things about diabetes research and "what's actually going on out there". Before going (I can't recall now what the meeting was about) I thought there was "nothing going on around me for." How wrong was I!??! Massively.

As you would expect, not all of the research is what we might ideally wish for, but they are looking hard for ways forward for all of us.

The Leics Diabetes Centre and the Leicester and Loughborough units of the NIHR collaborate on a massive amount of work for those both living with diabetes, and at risk of it. The Loughborough aspects are usually lifestyle based, in line with their particular specialisms.

Honestly, should any of you, anywhere in the country have the opportunity to become involved with the NIHR's work, I suggest you consider it very seriously. They are often crying out for patient feedback on either proposed research (as feasibility stage) or as they collate their study criteria. Obviously, not too many of the researchers themselves have diabetes, although I know of one who has been T1 for over 30 years, but they are all passionate about their work.

They gym pictured here is fab, with specialist equipment to allow safe working and exercising for those less naturally placed in a gym. http://diabetestimes.co.uk/diabetes-centre-receives-global-standard-accolade/

Every time I go, I discover something new; whether it be a new lab for blood tests, a scanner, piece of equipment or just the people.
 

Thank you, that will be helpful.
 

Would you happen to know if, apart from patient feedback, there are any RCTs being run there? This seems to be the only way that the 'Higher Ups' will listen and take note with a view to policy change.
 
Guzzler said:
Would you happen to know if, apart from patient feedback, there are any RCTs being run there? This seems to be the only way that the 'Higher Ups' will listen and take note with a view to policy change.
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Of course there are several RCTs running at any given time. Sadly, regularly under subscribed from a trialist/subject perspective.

If you have a bit of a look around here: https://www.ukctg.nihr.ac.uk/ You can get a bit of an idea what goes on where.
 
Ta very much.

Edited to add. What a useful site! Type in the condition (covers all conditions) and Voila!

I may be gone for some time
 
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@DCUKMod If you remember I was asked to take part in this, sent the questionnaire back on 9th November but have heard nothing since. Do you think I should contact them?
 
Grateful said:
I'm glad you added the smiley face! Otherwise one would have Capt. Oates at the back of one's mind....
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Captain Oates' last heard words was indeed my inspiration.... though I do not plan a similar demise!
 

Afraid I know little of him other than his 'Famous Last Words'. Good looking chap, though. I am convinced that I could not be so brave as to make such a sacrifice.
 
carol43 said:
@DCUKMod If you remember I was asked to take part in this, sent the questionnaire back on 9th November but have heard nothing since. Do you think I should contact them?
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It certainly couldn't do any harm, Carol.
 
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