Transforming the lives of children born with diabetes

Key staff

Professor Andrew Hattersley, Professor Sian Ellard, Dr Maggie Shepherd, Dr Sarah Flanagan

The lives of most patients born with diabetes have been revolutionised by the medical research conducted by the Exeter team led by Professors Andrew Hattersley and Sian Ellard. Employing state-of-the-art molecular genetics, the team have identified eight genetic causes of neonatal diabetes, and proved that the two commonest types are better treated with sulphonylurea tablets rather than insulin injections.

Their work meant international guidelines for the diagnosis and care of these patients have been rewritten. Patients from over 60 countries now have a normal life on tablets when they expected to be on insulin for the rest of their life.