Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency.
Our centre pioneered the concept of the gut as central to the pathogenesis and management of diabetes. This research program focuses not just on the gastrointestinal complications of diabetes, but on the determinants of glucose absorption and the secretion of gut peptides.
Research
Physiology of the gut
Professor Michael Horowitz's research activities are almost exclusively clinically based and relate primarily to gastrointestinal motor, sensory and hormonal function, particularly in the context of diabetes mellitus, glycaemic control, critical illness, aging and appetite regulation/obesity.
He has been primarily responsible for seminal observations in all of these areas, which have been translated to effective management strategies. He is recognised as the leading authority in the area of gastrointestinal function in diabetes.
A current project is a secondary analysis of clinical trial data to determine if baseline HbA1c moderates the effect of once weekly exenatide, relative to twice daily, on the efficacy of the treatment to reduce HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes. Download the analysis plan.
Protein 'preloads' to improve postprandial glycaemia in Type 2 Diabetes
Professor Chris Rayner's research concerns the function of the upper gastrointestinal tract in health and disease. A particular focus is the interaction between nutrients and the gut, including the release of small intestinal peptides that regulate appetite, blood glucose, and gastrointestinal motility.
Relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and sodium and potassium intake in type 2 diabetes
Professor Peter Clifton's research has led to the development of strategies to modify cardiovascular risk, and in recent years broadened the focus to the control of obesity and obesity-related conditions, including management of hyperglycaemia and disordered lipids in diabetic and insulin-resistant subjects, and strategies to modify macronutrient intake in order to optimise weight loss in the obese.