LDC team commended for transforming care for Early Onset Type 2 Diabetes
We’re thrilled to share that the Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) has been commended for the Patient Care Pathway, Secondary, Primary, Specialist or Community Care award at the prestigious Quality in Care (QiC) Diabetes Awards. This recognition is for their innovative work in supporting people with Early Onset Type 2 Diabetes (EOT2D), a group often overlooked but at high risk of serious complications.
Type 2 diabetes diagnosed at a younger age can lead to more aggressive disease progression and long-term health challenges. Traditional care pathways often do not meet the needs of these people. The LDC team set out to change that.
Using electronic medical record data, the team developed a risk stratification tool to identify those most at risk and fast-track them into specialist care. This included:
High-risk clinics for intensive management
Preconception clinics to support women planning pregnancy
A streamlined electronic referral system for GPs
Incentives and extra support for practices in high-prevalence areas
After 15 months, the results were:
485 appointments in preconception clinics.
148 appointments in high-risk clinics.
Patients in high-risk clinics saw:
HbA1c reduced by 2.0% in 6 months
Triglycerides down by 1.3 mmol/L
Patient showed high satisfaction
The QiC Diabetes Award judges said: “Innovating for Impact” was an excellent service for people with early onset type 2 diabetes. It made good use of incentivisation and collecting those highest priority groups. A fantastic project with great outcomes across both medical and PROM domains.”
Laura Willcocks, LDC’s Assistant Director for Integration, Education and Innovation, explains: “The QiC Awards celebrate excellence in care and innovation at a time when healthcare faces unprecedented pressures and financial challenges. These awards shine a spotlight on best practice that others can learn from and replicate. For fifteen years, they have helped local initiatives become widely adopted, driving meaningful change across the system. We hope that our system-wide approach to managing EOT2D diabetes, and important patient outcome data, will be part of this cycle, showcasing success and providing practical tools for others to achieve similar impact.”
This recognition highlights the LDC team’s dedication to innovative, patient-focused care and their commitment to tackling one of the fastest-growing health challenges.
Further support and education
LDC is organising and host an Early Onset Type 2 Diabetes Symposium in January 2026, which addresses the urgent and growing challenge of type 2 diabetes in younger populations. With rising global prevalence, early-onset type 2 diabetes presents distinctive clinical, psycho-social, and public health concerns, requiring targeted education and collaborative solutions.
LDC’s award-winning EDEN team has developed a free course on managing early onset type 2 diabetes for healthcare professionals working with people aged 18 – 39 years living with type 2 diabetes. Visit the EDEN website for more information.
Nicole Green and Dr Priscilla Sarkar.
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