Diabetes: exploring the sweet and sour

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed using a blood test called HbA1c – with a single threshold for everyone. However, variants in your DNA may affect the accuracy of the test. This means some people with diabetes are diagnosed late and may have more complications. Many of these variants are more common in ethnic minorities in the UK. Our research aims to use the power of genetics to make diabetes diagnosis more equitable.

Synapses are wired to source sugar. Wireless signals also increase and decrease blood sugar levels. In this talk, we’ll uncover how the brain buzzes to balance blood sugar; how this goes wrong in diabetes and some fascinating recent discoveries about how neuroscience could help control blood sugar levels.

Ever noticed how depression and diabetes are besties in the worst way? Scientists are puzzled over why these two love to tag along together! While risk factors like body mass index play some role in this, but another major culprit might be sleep! Sleep problems like insomnia seem to fuel this toxic relationship, increasing diabetes risk in people with
depression. Our research shows that depression and diabetes share genetic factors, with insomnia acting as a key mediator. Bottom line? Prioritizing good sleep isn’t just about feeling rested, it could help protect both your mental and physical health!