When Dr. Leigh Ann Newhook began her clinical career as a pediatrician, she noted an usually large number of diabetes cases in her community. Newfoundland and Labrador, the province in which Dr. Newhook completed her medical training, has one of the highest rates of Type 1 diabetes in the world. Newhook was inspired by her clinical experience to understand risk factors associated with Type 1 diabetes and how to reduce its burden in her province.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body destroys its own beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to make enough insulin. Dr. Newhook saw very young patients being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in the clinic, sometimes as early as 10 months old. This led her and her team to consider the effects of pregnancy and early infancy. Newhook’s research found that children born via caesarean section were more likely to develop Type 1 diabetes. While we still don’t know what causes the condition, Newhook hypothesized that it may have to do with a baby’s microbiome – the community of bacteria that live in the gut. Unlike babies born by caesarean section, those born vaginally are exposed to bacterial flora in the birth canal. This diversity of bacteria may reduce a person’s risk in developing Type 1 diabetes.

Dr. Newhook is also interested in the link between breastfeeding and health. Breastfeeding rates in Newfoundland and Labrador are among some of the lowest in Canada. Interestingly, parts of the world with higher breastfeeding rates have lower rates of Type 1 diabetes. Newhook’s current research examines why this is, and how to increase breastfeeding rates within the province.

For Dr. Newhook’s work, she was awarded the Canadian Diabetes Association’s Outstanding Health Care Professional award in 2012. She has been honoured with many other awards and accolades as well. Dr. Newhook continues to make contributions to our understanding of diabetes both in research and the clinic as the Director of the Janeway Pediatrics Research Unit, and a faculty member at Memorial University.

— Written by Shivani Seth