Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

The optimal role of medications in the treatment of type 2 diabetes has not yet been defined. Specifically, the use of insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes continues to be debated among doctors and researchers. This controversy is fueled by lack of knowledge regarding the long-term benefits or harms of insulin. The ability of insulin to control blood sugar levels may offer a protective benefit over time; however, often patients with type 2 diabetes require large doses of insulin to control their diabetes. This results in higher than normal insulin levels throughout the body and overtime, high levels of insulin may increase the risk of heart and stroke disease and may also contribute the development of cancers. In addition to studying the effect of insulin on its own, it is important to study the combined effect of insulin and oral medications used to control blood sugars in people with diabetes. Given that type 2 diabetes requires life-time treatment, it is very important we understand and discover the long-term risks and benefits associated with these medications. For my PhD thesis, I am proposing to design and conduct a series of studies assessing the role of insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes. The first study will evaluate the long-term effects of insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes, whereas the second study will focus on the use of insulin combined oral medications to control blood sugars. In addition to asking important questions, I will be exploring different methods used in this type of research. Specifically, I will be studying the optimal way to define drug use. The results of these studies will be directly applicable to the majority of people living in Canada with type 2 diabetes and will help guide their decisions regarding drug therapy. In addition to patients benefiting from these results, these studies will also help to inform clinicians, policy makers, and researchers in the area of diabetes management.