Project summary
People from Black African and Caribbean and South Asian backgrounds are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and some of its complications than White people. Professor Daniel Cuthbertson will look at differences in body fat stores and insulin response among people from these ethnic groups to uncover biological factors that can contribute to the development of type 2. This could lead to tailored support and treatments to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes based on your ethnicity.
Background to research
Type 2 diabetes develops when the body can’t use insulin as it should, or doesn’t make enough insulin. People from Black African and Caribbean and South Asian backgrounds are around three times more likely to get type 2 diabetes compared to White people. They’re also more likely to develop the condition from a younger age, and to develop more severe diabetes complications, such as liver or heart conditions, than White people.
The reasons why are complex - with social, environmental and biological factors all playing a part. Based on previous research, Professor Daniel Cuthbertson has identified potential biological differences that could help explain why people of different ethnicities face different risks of type 2 diabetes and its complications:
- In South Asian people, body fat is stored differently, with more building up in and around important organs like the liver, pancreas, and heart. This makes it more difficult for insulin to work properly to lower blood sugar levels, while also increasing blood fat levels.
- Black African and Caribbean people, have fewer ‘antennae’ on their cells to pick up insulin’s signals. This makes the body less responsive to the insulin it makes.
Research aims
Professor Cuthbertson is investigating why people of South Asian and Black African and Caribbean heritage face a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and liver disease compared to white Europeans.
To explore this, his team will study individuals from these ethnic groups side by side, aiming to confirm their scientific theories. They plan to recruit 40 women from each ethnic group, helping to address the ongoing underrepresentation of women in diabetes research.
First, the team will examine how people from different ethnicities change fat into energy after eating. Researchers will measure blood fat levels, insulin production and the body's response to insulin. They'll compare their results across the different ethnic groups.
Next, the team will take a closer look at body fat distribution. Using MRI scans, they will map participants' internal fat patterns and assess how these may influence the health of internal organs, like the liver and heart.
Potential benefit to people with diabetes
We’re committed to improving our understanding of the complex, multiple drivers of type 2 diabetes and to tackle diabetes health inequalities.
This study hopes to unravel biological differences that can help to explain why people from certain ethnicities have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and serious complications, like liver and heart disease. Knowing this could be the key to improving type 2 prevention and treatment for people of South Asian and Black African and Caribbean heritage, and moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach that fuels health inequalities.
