In this series, we’re bringing the exciting research that we’re funding from the Lab to Life.
Kamlesh Khunti is Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester. We talked to Kamlesh about his career journey, motivations for pursuing research, and all things MiFoot – a major clinical trial he’s leading, funded by Diabetes UK and NIHR.
“I started my career as a full-time GP. But after receiving a grant to conduct a research trial into HbA1c testing in GP practices, I realised that I wanted to pursue a career in research. Over the next 15 years, I transitioned from a position as a full-time GP to a full-time researcher.”
Kamlesh explained that his motivation for diabetes research is rooted in his family.
“For most South Asians, diabetes is part of their lives. I saw my grandfather develop diabetes and my uncle have amputations from diabetes at a very young age. My auntie had diabetes and died at the age of 56.
"Because I lived with my father, I saw the impact of diabetes on his life each day. He had three heart attacks and sadly passed away from a third stroke. This had a massive impact on me and the whole family.”
A step in a new direction for people with type 2 diabetes and foot ulcers
People living with type 2 diabetes can develop nerve damage to their feet, which can lead to foot ulcers. Kamlesh told us about the massive impact that diabetic foot ulcers can have on people’s health:
“Most people with type 2 diabetes and foot ulcers are at higher risk of multiple other long-term conditions - like amputations, heart attacks, and stroke. Diabetic foot ulcers are even linked to shortened lifespan.”
“Despite this, there are surprisingly not many interventions to manage and treat diabetic foot ulcers to protect people against these complications.”
We’re supporting Kamlesh’s research that aims to change this.
Kamlesh and his team are developing and testing a new intervention – called MiFoot – which seeks to prevent heart disease, strokes and early deaths in people living with type 2 diabetes who’ve had a foot ulcer. They’ve developed it in collaboration with people with lived experience.
The intervention gives people tailored physical activity advice and self-management education, along with recommendations on medications to protect them against other diabetes-related complications. The researchers are testing how effective it is in preventing cardiovascular disease compared with current care.
“Participants seem to really like this intervention because they are a forgotten group. They don’t usually receive consistency in advice regarding whether they can or cannot do exercise.
"We are providing individualised exercise, intervention, and classes depending on the stage of the person’s foot ulcer. For example, people can still do exercises whilst sat down. The feedback on our intervention has just been phenomenal.”
Tackling inequity
Kamlesh is making sure the new intervention will benefit everyone with type 2 diabetes, and can help to reduce inequities.
“Foot ulcers in people with diabetes are more common in those from more deprived communities. We also know that diabetes affects ethnic minority groups more often.
"So, we're trying to ensure that everyone from socioeconomically deprived and ethnic minority populations, and men and women equally, receive interventions like MiFoot.”
A cocktail connoisseur
Outside of research, Kamlesh enjoys spending time with his family and experimenting with mixology.
“I started making cocktails during the Covid-19 pandemic and have continued the tradition with my family ever since. I post my creations on ‘X’ on a Saturday and get interactions from people around the world.”
You can keep up with Kamlesh’s dazzling concoctions by following @kamleshkhunti on X.
