Crowdfunding 2025 - Support Laura on the road to better diabetes care, from child to adult
My name is Laura Valgaerts and my interest in diabetes grew out of personal experiences among people close to me. I have also had a passion for science and the human body from an early age. That is how I ended up in the team of prof. dr. Casteels and prof. dr. Gillard, where research is carried out into innovative technologies, nutrition and quality of life in the treatment of children and adults with type 1 diabetes.
My research project focuses first of all on the effect of an advanced insulin pump in young children with type 1 diabetes. These systems can improve life with type 1 diabetes considerably, but so far they have been available to these children only to a very limited extent. By proving that this system works effectively, we are trying to make it available to everyone, including the youngest among us. In doing so we also take into account the concerns of parents, who play a major role in day-to-day care.
Alongside technology, nutrition also plays an important role in my research. My project looks at the role of carbohydrates in the treatment of type 1 diabetes in children and young people. With this research I want to make a further contribution to improving diabetes care, on top of the effect of innovative technologies. Finally, I am also looking at the effect of technology in a broader group. I am carrying out data research among adults with type 1 diabetes to find out what effect innovative technologies have on glucose control on a larger scale, and how this relates to fear of hypoglycaemia.
Through my research I hope to make a valuable contribution to more personalised and more effective care for people with type 1 diabetes, from child to adult. The combination of technology, nutrition and quality of life is central to this, with the ultimate goal of improving life with type 1 diabetes.
Will you support her research on the road to better diabetes care, from child to adult?
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