The Director of the Institute of Diabetes for Older People (IDOP), Professor Alan Sinclair, has been awarded the highest honour for his work in improving the care given to older people with diabetes. The leading diabetes expert will receive the International Association of Geriatrics and Gerontology (IAGG) 2013 Presidential Award in a ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, later this year.
The internationally renowned awarding body, IAGG, encourages achievements of the highest level in gerontological research. Professor Sinclair is regarded as a WHO expert in diabetes and has a specialist interest in gerontology, which is the study of social, psychological and biological aspects of aging. Currently the Chair of European Working Party on Diabetes in Old Age, a European Special Interest Group in Diabetes for Older People, he pioneered the recent project to update the international guidelines on the clinical management of diabetes in care homes.
The accolade was awarded to Professor Sinclair for his outstanding dedication to the communication and development of diabetes care standards at IDOP. He commented: “I am pleased to have this recognition from the IAGG after more than two decades’ work in the area of gerontology and diabetes. This will encourage me to further develop IDOP so that we continue to make important contributions in the field.”
Launched in 2008, IDOP aims to promote high standards of care and good clinical outcomes in older people with diabetes. Based at the University of Bedfordshire, IDOP seeks to highlight the needs of older people with diabetes and strives to ensure that these needs are met through new clinical initiatives and policies. Professor Sinclair is currently leading a national initiative on diabetes and old age medicine through collaboration with NHS Diabetes.
