Diabetes

NIHR Exeter BRC conducts world-leading diabetes research to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment, from discovery science to patient-centred clinical studies.

Continuous glucose monitoring technology used in diabetes research and care.

In the UK 4.8M people have diabetes which is a major cause of death, cardiovascular disease, renal failure, and blindness. Managing diabetes and its long-term complications in primary and secondary care represents a significant cost to the NHS.

But preventing new cases, providing accurate early diagnosis, and improved treatment for people with diabetes can play a huge role in reducing the burden on services. Our research, with patients at its centre, focuses on the three strands of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

By working with our partners and colleagues across our research themes we are identifying innovative ways of preventing and diagnosing diabetes, helping those most at risk of developing the disease, and finding the treatments that best fit the needs of the individual according to their type of diabetes. By using targeted approaches and precision medicine we are helping people to get the right treatment as quickly as possible and help limit the possible lifelong complications of the disease.

Our researchers

Explore our world-leading approach to diabetes research through short videos featuring our researchers and clinical leaders.

Our theme lead, Prof Andrew Hattersley talks about our world-leading approach to diabetes research.

During the EASD 2025 Annual Meeting in Vienna, Prof. Andrew Hattersley was awarded the 57th Claude Bernard Prize in recognition of his contributions to advancing genetics in diabetes.

Our research projects View all research projects