“I am immensely grateful for this funding from AMRF, which provides much-needed financial security for myself and my young family and allows me to focus on my PhD studies in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM),” says Dr Lisa Douglas, recipient of a prestigious Douglas Goodfellow Medical Research Fellowship from AMRF.
“Prior to commencing my PhD I was working full-time towards gaining my specialist training in endocrinology. After having looked after many women with diabetes in pregnancy clinics, I realised that without a research background I had limited ability to change the status quo in healthcare, be an effective advocate for those who need support, or initiate major improvements in areas where this is needed.”
This, and her long-time interest in diabetes and women’s health outcomes, saw Lisa commence a PhD in GDM, a condition of high blood sugar levels first identified during pregnancy. It affects one in every eight pregnancies, increasing the risk of health problems in both mother and baby during pregnancy and in the years following.
With her research, Lisa is identifying how blood sugar control during a GDM pregnancy impacts outcomes 4.5 years later for mother and child. Blood tests, health records and specialised questionnaires will be used. In addition, she is reviewing if women are achieving recommended targets for blood sugar control, along with receiving appropriate diabetes screening follow-up after their pregnancy with GDM.
“Unbelievably, there is a lack of world-wide consensus on which blood sugar targets should be recommended during pregnancy, and we don’t know whether women are actually able to achieve these targets,” explains Lisa.
The New Zealand gestational diabetes guidelines from 2014 are now due for renewal. Lisa’s work will help to understand the current situation in NZ, and shape the future clinical guidelines.
“My work on adherence to glucose targets during pregnancy and to post-partum diabetes screening after gestational diabetes will firstly help to inform the current New Zealand situation. I will also review the impact on outcomes for mothers and their children and highlight where targeted interventions may be most beneficial to prioritise health spending.”
“My career goal is to become an academic Endocrinologist working in Auckland, combining clinical practice with a research career. With research trials we can move away from variable consensus statements on GDM and instead inform guidelines from evidence-based medicine.
“Ultimately, I hope to empower women to manage GDM through education and common goals. Reviewing adherence to diabetes screening following pregnancy has the potential to reduce inequalities after GDM which exist due to the inter-generational cycle of diabetes and obesity.”