Olympic Hero Opens Groundbreaking Diabetes Centre

Five-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave has opened a multi-million pound diabetes centre that brings together expertise in clinical research from Leicester’s Hospitals together with the world-class academic expertise of the University to tackle this growing health problem.

The Leicester Diabetes Centre, equipped with a bespoke exercise laboratory along with teaching and training facilities is one of the largest diabetes centres in Europe. After the opening Sir Steve said: “I was blown away by the size of the whole place. When you live with diabetes you have to develop another sense - you always have to think about your blood sugar levels and most diabetics get into a rhythm and work out a very different lifestyle to other people. I’m glad the specialists have this new centre where they can help people with diabetes lead an ordinary life.”

Melanie Davies, Professor of Diabetes Medicine and Co-Director of the Centre said: “The focus of the Leicester Diabetes Centre’s research is to improve outcomes and the health of people with diabetes and to stop those at high risk of type 2 diabetes developing it at all.

 “Our team is established as one of the leading clinical research groups for diabetes in Europe and globally. Over the last five years, we have published more than 300 original research publications and have attracted more than £30 million of new funding for research to Leicester.    

One of the most significant investments on the site is the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester-Loughborough Diet, Lifestyle and Physical Activity Biomedical Research Unit, which will look into how people with diabetes can manage their lifestyle and a clinical trials unit to continue to explore innovative treatments.