Professor gets global diabetes role
Professor Alan Sinclair, an internationally and nationally recognised researcher in the field of diabetes and older people has been recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) by being appointed to one of its prestigious Expert Working Groups.
Along with other world experts, Alan has been appointed to the Working Group on Frailty which is increasingly becoming a major public health and economic burden across the globe.
This appointment for the The Director of Diabetes Frail is in recognition of his work in the area of older people and particularly for his contributions to exploring the link between diabetes and frailty.
The group met recently in Geneva at the WHO headquarters to prepare a scientific document that sets a platform for more enquiry and research into this important area.
I will be looking to use my position to initiate further work in this important field to help us better understand ways of preventing and treating frailty in general and diabetes and frailty in particular.
Professor Sinclair said: “This appointment is an honour and represents an opportunity to continue my work in the arena of frailty and diabetes with an international perspective.
“Diabetes and frailty may be causally related and operate through each of the key components of the frailty phenotype or via the associated medical co-morbidities.
“The presence of frailty in a setting of diabetes increases the level of disability and leads to poorer clinical outcomes. The vascular complications of diabetes (both macro and microvascular) are implicated in this aetiopathogenesis of frailty and any associated mood disturbance or cognitive impairments worsen the outcome.
He has received numerous awards in recognition of his work, including the 2013 IAGG Presidential Medal which is the highest honour the IAGG can bestow upon a doctor.
The IDF (International Diabetes Federation) appointed Professor Sinclair to Co-Lead the Working party to produce Global Guidance on Managing Diabetes in Older People which is now published and available on the IDF website. Prof Sinclair was the first to be appointed by the Department of Health to the position of National Clinical Lead for Diabetes in Older People.
Professor Sinclair is currently leading discussions with Dr Mike Sampson and the Joint British Diabetes Societies (JBDS) with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for developing quality diabetes standards in UK care homes: this follows on from his leadership of the first National Diabetes Audit in Care Homes (2013-4).
He established the Institute of Diabetes for Older People (IDOP), which became a major platform for national and international research and translational work, and also led the development of the Older People’s Diabetes Network (OPDN) alongside NHS Diabetes.