Why did you decide to become a Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist ?

I did my research and PhD in this field. I was fascinated by how the whole hormonal balance and hormone system works in the body. I started as a special interest trainee, then got an opportunity to do more research, and as I went deeper it became more and more fascinating to see how the hormonal system actually works, and how you can identify the causes, as well as the newer genetics. My research interest is in identifying the genes that may cause glucose disorders, which was the focus of my research.

What are the common symptoms that your patients tend to present with?

It depends on the type of condition. Paediatric endocrinology is a wide area, but to give some examples: in hypoglycaemia, typical symptoms are tiredness, lethargy, sweating, becoming pale or drowsy, sometimes being very angry, hunger, and in more severe cases seizures. In type 1 diabetes, or diabetes mellitus in children, common signs include polyuria (passing lots of urine), drinking lots of water, weight loss, becoming unwell or sick, and getting tired easily. With thyroid problems it depends on whether the thyroid is underactive or overactive, but both can cause tiredness and lethargy; an underactive thyroid tends to lead to weight gain, while an overactive thyroid causes weight loss. So the presentation always depends on the specific condition the child has when they come into clinic.

What are the treatments that you're able to offer your patients?

Diagnostics depend on the suspected condition. We primarily look at hormonal function and how the system is working, testing the relevant hormone levels. Treatment then depends on the condition itself. For type 1 diabetes we treat with insulin, and we now also offer insulin pumps and closed-loop insulin pump therapy. For growth hormone deficiency, treatment is with growth hormone. For an underactive thyroid, treatment is thyroxine. The approach is always tailored to the specific condition the child has.

What are your areas of sub-specialist interest?

My sub-specialist interest is in children with glucose disorders, both rare causes of hypoglycaemia and rare forms of diabetes mellitus. I also have a sub-specialist interest in childhood obesity, looking particularly at the genetics of obesity.