Epidemiology is the study of patterns, causes and effects of health and disease in different groups of people.
Epidemiological studies are important for informing public health policy and practice guidelines. Information can be used to develop and evaluate effective strategies for preventing diseases occurring in the first place.
They can also be used to improve the clinical care of patients who already have the disease by reducing their risk of complications or further health problems.
Research
The Big Questions
In Australia, about two new cases of type 1 diabetes are diagnosed every day and the number of children being diagnosed with the disease continues to increase both in Australia and around the world.
We we're currently researching
- Why are more children being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes?
- What causes type 1 diabetes?
- Can we prevent type 1 diabetes?
Our research group is looking for patterns and trends in newly diagnosed patients with diabetes in Western Australia to try and understand the characteristics of children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and identify the risk factors that may have triggered their disease. Data from these studies also contributes valuable information to understanding the causes of childhood diabetes in Australia, adding to the prospects of finding a prevention or cure to this serious disease in the future.
Above: Trends in the incidence of type 1 diabetes from 1984-2010 in Western Australia. Taken from: HAYNES et al., DIABETES CARE, VOLUME 35, NOVEMBER 2012
Hypoglycaemia
Hypoglycemia, meaning low blood glucose levels, is an acute complication of diabetes. In severe cases, when left untreated, it can result in patients experiencing convulsions or a coma, making it a major cause of anxiety and fear for parents whose children have diabetes.
Over the past decade, the types of insulin and ways to treat diabetes and monitor blood glucose levels has improved, and there are indications the overall number of patients experiencing severe hypoglycaemic events has decreased.
Researchers are investigating the demographic, lifestyle and diabetes management factors associated with severe hypoglycaemia. We are aiming to provide clinicians and diabetes educators with better knowledge about which patients are at higher risk of severe hypoglycaemia and how to best minimise this risk.
Diabetes complications
Another broad area of our epidemiological research is investigating the patterns and risk factors of long-term complications of diabetes such as eye, heart and kidney disease, mental health issues, indicators of psychosocial wellbeing and school outcomes.