‘Most influential’ diabetes GP named

A Leicester diabetes professor has been named as one of the country’s leading GPs in a prestigious list.

Professor Kamlesh Khunti has been heralded as a “GP diabetes champion” after being installed at number 25 of the Pulse Power 50.

The publication, which provides news for general practice, has called him “probably the most influential GP researcher on diabetes in the UK and his work is having a direct effect on policy”.

Professor Khunti is a Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester and Co-Director of the Leicester Diabetes Centre.

Highlights

It comes just months after the professor was included in the top 10 of the most influential global diabetes researchers at the American Diabetes Association’s annual conference. He also received a lifetime achievement award for diabetes research in June from the British Association Of Physicians Of Indian Origin.

I would like to thank my family and all the wonderful research and teaching staff at the Leicester Diabetes Centre

Professor Khunti said that his highlights of the year include his input into the National Diabetes Prevention Programme as well as the accolades.

He said: “I would like to thank my family and all the wonderful research and teaching staff at the Leicester Diabetes Centre, in particular my close friend and co-director Professor Melanie Davies.”

Professor Khunti chaired the NICE guideline group that recommended that GPs should screen all patients aged 40 or older for diabetes in 2012. These recommendations form the basis of pilots launched by NHS England, with a view to rolling out a national scheme next year, whereby GP practices will assess the diabetes risk of millions of patients, including possible contractual incentive

The Leicester Diabetes Centre is an international centre of excellence in research, education and innovation, which is a partnership between the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and the University of Leicester and led by Professor Khunti and Professor Davies. It is hosted at Leicester General Hospital.