Leicester Diabetes Centre

Leicester Diabetes Centre We are a leading applied health research unit committed to improving the lives and care of people wi

The Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) is based at the Leicester General Hospital and is hosted by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. Leicester has a strong tradition and reputation for excellence in diabetes care dating back 70 years to the pioneering work of Doctor Joan Walker, who established the first community diabetes clinics and the first diabetes research nurses in the UK. She started work at the Leicester Royal Infirmary as honorary Physician during the world war 2 taking care of people with diabetes. Leicester also has the highest number of people with diabetes in the UK. Dr John Hearnshaw, was her successor in 1967 at the LRI, He was influential in the care of both children and adults with diabetes. He presented at the IFD : review of childhood diabetes in Leicester from 1930 which, formed basis of other prevalence studies. This pioneering spirit is still at work in the Leicester Diabetes Centre. The original research department originated at the Royal Infirmary and was opened in 1996. At this time the main research work undertaken in the department were commercial drug trials.
 But it was only 12 years ago that Professor Melanie Davies began the diabetes research service with one nurse. In 2001 a Nurse Research Fellow was appointed to develop non-commercial clinical trials following the success of the departments first academic study in 1999 looking into the combination of different oral agents in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Since then, Professor Melanie Davies (Professor Melanie Davies is an Honorary Consultant Physician in the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and, since February 2006, Professor of Diabetes Medicine at the University of Leicester) and colleague Professor Kamlesh Khunti (Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine, University of Leicester) have developed a talented and diverse team of over 110 researchers, clinicians and educationalists working together on an innovative research portfolio of successful academic and commercial trials.


In March 2012 the new Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) was opened, hosted within clinical space at the Leicester General Hospital (LGH) with excellent access to patients. The Centre is now one of the largest facilities in Europe for carrying out first class and cutting edge research in the field of diabetes, prevention, and related long-term conditions. The team is recognised as leading in national and international research, education and training in diabetes.

Calling all healthcare professionals – register now for the Early Onset Type 2 Diabetes Symposium!📅When: 14 January 2026...
20/10/2025

Calling all healthcare professionals – register now for the Early Onset Type 2 Diabetes Symposium!

📅When: 14 January 2026
📍Where: Leicester Diabetes Centre, Leicester General Hospital

The Early Onset Type 2 Diabetes Symposium will bring together clinicians, researchers, nurses, educators and allied health professionals to delve into the unique challenges of early onset type 2 diabetes.

What you will gain:
• Up-to-date evidence and practical strategies on diagnosis and management
• Insights into psychosocial support and patient engagement
• Exposure to innovative digital health and precision medicine approaches
• Opportunities to network with leading experts and peers

Featured speakers include: Professor Melanie Davies CBE, Clinical Associate Professor Shivani Misra, Associate Professor Emma Wilmot, and more.

Who should attend: clinicians, diabetes nurses, educators, allied health, researchers, public health & policy professionals.

Free to attend. Limited places available so secure your seat now!
🔗https://www.leicesterdiabetescentre.org.uk/news-blog/early-onset-type-2-diabetes-symposium

Please share this with colleagues who may be interested.

✓ Aged between 18-45 years✓ Do you have ?✓ Were you diagnosed before the age of 40?✓ Access to digital technologyYou ma...
16/10/2025

✓ Aged between 18-45 years
✓ Do you have ?
✓ Were you diagnosed before the age of 40?
✓ Access to digital technology

You may be eligible to take part a research study that provides access to a digital programme that has been developed in partnership with young adults (18-45 years) with lived experience of type 2 diabetes.

The digital programme will include:

Information about:
o diabetes stigma
o loneliness and mental health
o managing your relationships, social life and family life alongside diabetes
o managing work, university, or college alongside diabetes
o women’s health and type 2 diabetes
o men’s health and type 2 diabetes

Short videos and audio clips of young adults with type 2 diabetes talking about their experiences

A private chat forum which can only be accessed by other young adults living with type 2 diabetes.

A forum where you get to ask questions to our text team of experts

Tools to set goals to help change any behaviour you wish to change, like physical activity

Find out more: https://dana-mydesmond.squarespace.com

Today (Tuesday 14 October) is Allied Health Professions (AHP) Day 2025, which is a chance to celebrate the difference AH...
14/10/2025

Today (Tuesday 14 October) is Allied Health Professions (AHP) Day 2025, which is a chance to celebrate the difference AHPs make across the NHS every day.

Fin Turner, Senior Specialist Research Dietitian, plays an important role in clinical research here at the Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC).

Fin supports participants in studies exploring potential new weight loss treatments, offering lifestyle counselling, behaviour change support and ensuring the delivery of carefully designed dietary interventions.

Fin’s dedication and person-centred approach have left a lasting impression on participants. One, who nominated him for a BEE (Being Exceptional Everyday) award, said:

“It’s rare that you can connect with a medical professional... I left the appointment feeling so much better about my ability to manage my condition.”

Today, and every day, we celebrate the expertise and compassion of our allied health professionals who help shape the future of health research.

Our Hypo Heroes assembled this week to support Week, which raises awareness of hypoglycaemia among healthcare professi...
09/10/2025

Our Hypo Heroes assembled this week to support Week, which raises awareness of hypoglycaemia among healthcare professionals across the UK.

Find out more & download the resource pack, supported by our Eden team, at hypoawarenessweek.com.

This week is ! Our Eden team has created a 'Highlighting Hypos' infographic for to use when reviewing someone with ...
07/10/2025

This week is !

Our Eden team has created a 'Highlighting Hypos' infographic for to use when reviewing someone with ⬇️

📣New podcast alert! The Leicester Diabetes Centre has launched its first podcast and we’re kicking off with the M3 study...
02/10/2025

📣New podcast alert!

The Leicester Diabetes Centre has launched its first podcast and we’re kicking off with the M3 study, which is exploring a new type of care designed specifically for young adults (aged 16–45 years) with .

This series makes complex research easy to understand, with conversations you can use in your own diabetes care or practice.

Listen to 'LDC Presents: The M3 Podcast' now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or on our website: https://www.leicesterdiabetescentre.org.uk/news-blog/ldc-launches-podcast-bringing-diabetes-research-to-life

Address

Leicester Diabetes Centre, Leicester General Hospital
Leicester
LE54PW,ENGLAND,UK

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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Leicester has a strong tradition and reputation for excellence in diabetes care dating back 70 years to the pioneering work of Doctor Joan Walker, who established the first community diabetes clinics and the first diabetes research nurses in the UK. She started work at the Leicester Royal Infirmary as honorary Physician during the world war 2 taking care of people with diabetes. Leicester also has the highest number of people with diabetes in the UK. Dr John Hearnshaw, was her successor in 1967 at the LRI, He was influential in the care of both children and adults with diabetes. He presented at the IFD : review of childhood diabetes in Leicester from 1930 which, formed basis of other prevalence studies. This pioneering spirit is still at work in the Leicester Diabetes Centre. The original research department originated at the Royal Infirmary and was opened in 1996. At this time the main research work undertaken in the department were commercial drug trials.
 But it was only 12 years ago that Professor Melanie Davies began the diabetes research service with one nurse. In 2001 a Nurse Research Fellow was appointed to develop non-commercial clinical trials following the success of the departments first academic study in 1999 looking into the combination of different oral agents in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Since then, Professor Melanie Davies (Professor Melanie Davies is an Honorary Consultant Physician in the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and, since February 2006, Professor of Diabetes Medicine at the University of Leicester) and colleague Professor Kamlesh Khunti (Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine, University of Leicester) have developed a talented and diverse team of over 110 researchers, clinicians and educationalists working together on an innovative research portfolio of successful academic and commercial trials.
 In March 2012 the new Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) was opened, hosted within clinical space at the Leicester General Hospital (LGH) with excellent access to patients. The Centre is now one of the largest facilities in Europe for carrying out first class and cutting edge research in the field of diabetes, prevention, and related long-term conditions. The team is recognised as leading in national and international research, education and training in diabetes.