I am first and foremost a clinician keen to make a difference in the lives of actual patients. Thus most of my research is either clinical or translational, and much of what I do is collaborative. I am always keen to find new collaborations to move clinical care forward.

My first major focus is the area of complications of diabetes and particularly the prevention of foot ulcers and amputations. I came to this from studying neuropathy and remain interested in all aspects of neuropathy, but footwear design to prevent foot ulcers and methods of healing diabetic foot ulcers are two of my currently funded research projects; I am also exploring collaborations in the area of Charcot fractures.

My second major focus is behavior modification as the means for helping people prevent and treat diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is caused by what we do and can be prevented. Diabetes control is first and foremost a 24/7 function of what the person does. Within this broad theme I am interested in the role of depression and psychological distress in general, and also in working with women with gestational diabetes, both during pregnancy but particularly post-partum, to prevent diabetes in them and their children.

And my third general theme is changing healthcare delivery to improve patient outcomes. This includes rethinking the diabetes clinic, providing primary care physicians with tools to better manage diabetes, developing methods for optimizing glucose control in the hospital, and bringing technology to bear in all these areas.