SFEBES2017 Futures Futures 1: Your future in endocrinology and diabetes (3 abstracts)
Kings College London, London, UK.
As a physician, diabetes is a condition that you will inevitably encounter in your career. Over 4 million have been diagnosed with diabetes here in the U.K., and importantly this figure does not account for the thousands of symptomless individuals in whom diabetes has not yet been diagnosed. For scientists, diabetes is fascinating on a genetic, molecular and environmental level; glycaemic dysfunction affects every organ in the body. Decades of research have revealed multiple types of diabetes and effective treatments but there are many significant questions left to answer such as, what is the best way to manage type 1 diabetes? and is type 2 diabetes actually a heterogeneous group of different metabolic disorders?. My research focuses on the former question, particularly in a subset of the type 1 population who are at a greater risk of hypoglycaemia, individuals with impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia (IAH). IAH affects 1 in 4 people with long duration type 1 diabetes and increases the risk of severe and possibly life-threating hypoglycaemia 36 fold. We continue to investigate the aetiology, progression and therapeutic options for this group, my current research indicates the brain and behaviour are key factors. Pursuing diabetes as a career opens the door for you to ask a million questions, and meet great minds whilst pursuing the answers. Whether you are lab, technology or clinically focussed, this speciality encompasses robust and novel research, innovative technology and cutting-edge surgery. Diabetes, why not?