Staff Profile

I am currently a Senior Lecturer working within the Human Nutrition & Exercise Research Centre and Diabetes Research Group. I was appointed as a research institute Principal Investigator in 2016, where I was awarded a prestigious Newcastle University Research Fellowship.  Prior to moving to Newcastle I studied a PhD in clinical exercise physiology within the Diabetes Research Group, of the College of Medicine, and the Department of Sport and Exercise Science, at Swansea University. 

My primary research interests focus on the role of exercise and nutrition in the management of chronic disease, with particular interest in the facilitation of safe and effective exercise in those with Type 1 diabetes.  I also explore nutritional and insulin dose adjustment strategies to improve mealtime glucose control in both Type 1 and 2 diabetes.

I have received funding from Diabetes UK, Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation, The Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund, NU COVID-19 research fund, Arla Foods Ingredients, Medtronic, Dexcom & Beneo.

For a full list of publications see my Google Scholar page.

 

Expertise

I have conducted various nutrition and exercise projects that are published in highly esteemed clinical journals that have involved measures such as continuous glucose monitoring, exercise in high-risk patient groups, appetite regulation, postprandial glucose control, endothelial progenitor cells, gastric emptying, free-living nutritional interventions.

I am was formerly an expert panel member for the international Type 1 diabetes and exercise education programme ‘JDRF PEAK’.

I have considerable experience in exercise laboratory management, risk assessment, and COVID-19 management protocols in both NHS trust and University laboratory settings. 

 

Education & Training

PhD Human Physiology – Swansea University

BSc Sport & Exercise Science (1^st Class Hons) – Swansea University

Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist – American College of Sports Medicine

Faculty Roles

- Early Career Researcher Theme Lead (Nutrition, Exercise, Metabolism)

- Biosafety Academic Lead - Population Health Science Institute

New PhD areas of interest - applications welcome

Residual beta-cell function and postprandial lipidomics - collaboration with Prof Lee Roberts, Leeds.

Novel protein forms in health and disease

Exercise, type 1 diabetes and vascular repair / regeneration

Current projects as Principal Investigator:

- EXPLODE - Exercise to prevent frailty and loss of independence in elderly, insulin treated people with diabetes

- Impact of residual beta-cell function on glucose variability before and after exercise in Type 1 diabetes

- Predictors of the endothelial progenitor cell response to exercise in people with and without Type 1 diabetes

- The influence of a small dose of whey protein on gastric emptying in lean, obese and type 2 diabetes patients.

- The influence of 7 day premeal whey protein supplementation on freeliving glucose on control in Type 2 diabetes

Current Team

Dr Guy Taylor - Exercise Physiologist

Mr Kieran Smith - PhD Diabetes

Dr Andy Shaw - Academic Foundation Programme

Dr Rachel Stocker - Health Psychologist

Co-supervision

Mr Oliver Bell - PhD

Mr Joe Kapusarevic - PhD

Dr Catriona Farrell (Uni of Dundee)

I am programme leader for MRES Clinical Exercise Physiology, MSc Exercise Physiology and teach on undergraduate and BSc Sport & Exercise Science.

• Articles

  • Taylor GS, Smith K, Scragg J, McDonald TJ, Shaw JA, West DJ, Roberts LD. The metabolome as a diagnostic for maximal aerobic capacity during exercise in type 1 diabetes. Diabetologia 2024, 67, 413–1428.
  • Stocker R, Gupta A, Taylor GS, Shaw JA, West DJ. Adapting to compromised routines: Parental perspectives on physical activity and health for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in the UK during COVID-19 lockdown. Journal of Pediatric Nursing 2024, epub ahead of print.
  • Morris A, Bright C, Cocks M, Gibson N, Goff L, Greaves C, Griffin S, Jane B, Kinnafick F, Robb P, Roberts M, Salman D, Saxton J, Taylor A, West D, Yates T, Andrews RC, Gill JMR. Recommendations from Diabetes UK's 2022 diabetes and physical activity workshop. Diabetic Medicine 2023, 40(9), e15169.
  • Bell OJ, Flynn D, Clifford T, West D, Stevenson E, Avery L. Identifying behavioural barriers and facilitators to engaging men in a community-based lifestyle intervention to improve physical and mental health and well-being. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2023, 20(1), 25.
  • Kietsiriroje N, Shah H, Zare M, O'Mahoney LL, West DJ, Pearson SM, Ajjan RA, Campbell MD. Dietary fat intake is associated with insulin resistance and an adverse vascular profile in patients with T1D: a pooled analysis. European Journal of Nutrition 2023, 62, 1231-1238.
  • Taylor GS, Shaw A, Scragg JH, Smith K, Campbell MD, Macdonald TJ, Shaw JAM, Ross MD, West DJ. Type 1 diabetes patients with different residual beta-cell function but similar age, HBA1c, and cardiorespiratory fitness have differing exercise-induced angiogenic cell mobilisation. Frontiers in Endocrinology: Clinical Diabetes 2022, 13, 797438.
  • Campbell MD, West DJ, O'Mahoney LL, Pearson S, Kietsiriroje N, Holmes M, Ajjan RA. The relative contribution of diurnal and nocturnal glucose exposures to HbA1c in type 1 diabetes males: a pooled analysis. Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders 2022, 21, 573-581.
  • Capper TE, Siervo M, Clifford T, Taylor G, Iqbal W, West D, Stevenson EJ. Pharmacokinetic Profile of Incremental Oral Doses of Dietary Nitrate in Young and Older Adults: A Crossover Randomized Clinical Trial. The Journal of Nutrition 2022, 152(1), 130-139.
  • Ashley K, Smith K, Brunsgaard LH, Stevenson E, West D, Avery L. Identifying Behavioural Determinants to Uptake and Adherence to a Whey Protein Supplement for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes: A Qualitative Interview Study. Nutrients 2022, 14(3), 565.
  • Taylor GS, Shaw AC, Smith K, Wason J, McDonald TJ, Oram RA, Stevenson E, Shaw JAM, West DJ. Capturing the real-world benefit of residual β-cell function during clinically important time-periods in established Type 1 diabetes. Diabetic Medicine 2022, 39(5), e14814.
  • Allerton DM, West DJ, Stevenson EJ. Whey protein consumption following fasted exercise reduces early postprandial glycaemia in centrally obese males: a randomised controlled trial. European Journal of Nutrition 2021, 60, 999-1011.
  • Taylor GS, Shaw A, Smith K, Capper TE, Scragg JH, Cronin M, Bashir A, Flatt A, Campbell MD, Stevenson EJ, Shaw JA, Ross M, West DJ. Type 1 diabetes patients increase CXCR4+ and CXCR7+ haematopoietic and endothelial progenitor cells with exercise, but the response is attenuated. Scientific Reports 2021, 11(1), 14502.
  • Smith K, Taylor GS, Allerton DM, Brunsgaard LH, Bowden Davies KA, Stevenson EJ, West DJ. The Postprandial Glycaemic and Hormonal Responses Following the Ingestion of a Novel, Ready-to-Drink Shot Containing a Low Dose of Whey Protein in Centrally Obese and Lean Adult Males: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Frontiers in Endocrinology 2021, 12, 696977.
  • Stocker R, Shaw JA, Taylor GS, Witham MD, West DJ. EXercise to Prevent frailty and Loss Of independence in insulin treated older people with DiabetEs (EXPLODE): protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT). BMJ Open 2021, 11, e048932.
  • O'Mahoney LL, Kietsiriroje N, Pearson S, West DJ, Holmes M, Ajjan RA, Campbell MD. Estimated glucose disposal rate as a candidate biomarker for thrombotic biomarkers in T1D: a pooled analysis. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation 2021, 44, 2417-2426.
  • Eckstein ML, Farinha JB, McCarthy O, West DJ, Yardley JE, Bally L, Zueger T, Stettler C, Boff W, Reischak-Oliveira A, Riddell MC, Zaharieva DP, Pieber TR, Muller A, Birnbaumer P, Aziz F, Brugnara L, Haahr H, Zijlstra E, Heise T, Sourij H, Roden M, Hofmann P, Bracken RM, Pesta D, Moser O. Differences in Physiological Responses to Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Adults With and Without Type 1 Diabetes: A Pooled Analysis. Diabetes Care 2021, 44(1), 240-247.
  • Taylor GS, Smith K, Capper TE, Scragg JH, Bashir A, Flatt A, Stevenson EJ, McDonald TJ, Oram RA, Shaw JA, West DJ. Postexercise Glycemic Control in Type 1 Diabetes Is Associated With Residual β-Cell Function. Diabetes Care 2020, 43(10), 2362-2370.
  • Taylor GS, Moser O, Smith K, Shaw A, Tang JCY, Fraser WD, Eckstein ML, Aziz F, Stevenson EJ, Shaw JA, West DJ. Bone turnover and metabolite responses to exercise in people with and without long-duration type 1 diabetes: a case-control study. BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care 2020, 8(2), e001779.
  • Farrell CM, McNeilly AD, Fournier P, Jones T, Hapca SM, West DJ, McCrimmon RJ. A randomised controlled study of high intensity exercise as a dishabituating stimulus to improve hypoglycaemia awareness in people with type 1 diabetes: a proof-of-concept study. Diabetologia 2020, 63, 853-863.
  • Allerton DM, Rumbold PLS, West DJ, Stevenson EJ. The effect of supplemental whey protein timing on postprandial glycaemia in centrally obese males. British Journal of Nutrition 2019, 121(6), 637-646.
  • King DG, Walker M, Campbell MD, Breen L, Stevenson EJ, West DJ. A small dose of whey protein co-ingested with mixed-macronutrient breakfast and lunch meals improves postprandial glycemia and suppresses appetite in men with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2018, 107(4), 550-557.
  • Stewart CJ, Nelson A, Campbell MD, Walker M, Stevenson EJ, Shaw JA, Cummings SP, West DJ. Gut microbiota of Type 1 diabetes patients with good glycaemic control and high physical fitness is similar to people without diabetes: an observational study. Diabetic Medicine 2017, 34(1), 127-134.
  • Campbell MD, Walker M, Ajjan RA, Birch KM, Gonzalez JT, West DJ. An additional bolus of rapid-acting insulin to normalise postprandial cardiovascular risk factors following a high-carbohydrate high-fat meal in patients with type 1 diabetes: A randomised controlled trial. Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research 2017, 14(4), 336-344.
  • Turner D, Gray BJ, Luzio S, Dunseath G, Bain SC, Hanley S, Richards A, Rhydderch DC, Ayles M, Kilduff LP, Campbell MD, West DJ, Bracken RM. Similar magnitude of post-exercise hyperglycemia despite manipulating resistance exercise intensity in type 1 diabetes individuals. Scandanavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports 2016, 26(4), 404-412.
  • Campbell MD, Walker M, King D, Gonzalez JT, Allerton D, Stevenson EJ, Shaw JA, West DJ. Carbohydrate counting at meal time followed by a small secondary postprandial bolus injection at 3 hours prevents late hyperglycemia, without hypoglycemia, after a high-carbohydrate high-fat meal in Type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2016, 39(9), e141-e142.
  • Turner D, Luzio S, Gray BJ, Bain SC, Hanley S, Richards A, Rhydderch DC, Martin R, Campbell MD, Kilduff LP, West DJ, Bracken RM. Algorithm that delivers an individualized rapid-acting insulin dose after morning resistance exercise counters post-exercise hyperglycaemia in people with Type 1 diabetes. Diabetic Medicine 2016, 33(4), 506-510.
  • West DJ, Campbell MD, Gonzalez JT, Walker M, Stevenson EJ, Ahmed FW, Wijaya S, Shaw JA, Weaver JU. The inflammation, vascular repair and injury responses to exercise in fit males with and without Type 1 diabetes: an observational study. Cardiovascular Diabetology 2015, 14, 71.
  • Campbell MD, West DJ, Bain SC, Kingsley MI, Foley P, Kilduff L, Turner D, Gray B, Stephens JW, Bracken RM. Simulated games activity vs continuous running exercise: a novel comparison of the glycemic and metabolic responses in T1DM patients. Scandanavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports 2015, 25(2), 216-222.
  • Campbell MD, Walker M, Bracken RM, Turner D, Stevenson EJ, Gonzalez JT, Shaw JA, West DJ. Insulin therapy and dietary adjustments to normalise glycaemia and prevent nocturnal hypoglycaemia after evening exercise in Type 1 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care 2015, 3, e000085.
  • Turner D, Luzio S, Gray BJ, Dunseath G, Rees ED, Kilduff LP, Campbell MD, West DJ, Bain SC, Bracken RM. Impact of single and multiple sets of resistance exercise in type 1 diabetes. Scandanavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports 2015, 25(1), e99-e109.
  • Campbell MD, Gonzalez JT, Rumbold PL, Walker M, Shaw JA, Stevenson EJ, West DJ. Comparison of appetite responses to high- and low-glycemic index postexercise meals under matched insulinemia and fiber in type 1 diabetes. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2015, 101(3), 478-486.
  • Turner D, Luzio S, Kilduff LP, Gray BJ, Dunseath G, Bain SC, Campbell MD, West DJ, Bracken RM. Reductions in resistance exercise-induced hyperglycaemic episodes are associated with circulating interleukin-6 in Type 1 diabetes. Diabetic Medicine 2014, 31(8), 1009-1013.
  • Campbell MD, Walker M, Trenell MI, Luzio S, Dunseath G, Tuner D, Bracken RM, Bain SC, Russell M, Stevenson EJ, West DJ. Metabolic Implications when Employing Heavy Pre- and Post-Exercise Rapid-Acting Insulin Reductions to Prevent Hypoglycaemia in Type 1 Diabetes Patients: A Randomised Clinical Trial. PLoS One 2014, 9(5), e97143.
  • Campbell MD, Walker M, Trenell MI, Stevenson EJ, Turner D, Bracken RM, Shaw JA, West DJ. A Low-Glycemic Index Meal and Bedtime Snack Prevents Postprandial Hyperglycemia and Associated Rises in Inflammatory Markers, Providing Protection From Early but Not Late Nocturnal Hypoglycemia Following Evening Exercise in Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Care 2014, 37(7), 1845-1853.
  • Campbell MD, Walker M, Trenell MI, Jakovljevic DG, Stevenson EJ, Bracken RM, Bain SC, West DJ. Large pre- and postexercise rapid-acting insulin reductions preserves glycemia and prevents early- but not late-onset hypoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2013, 36(8), 2217-2224.
  • West DJ, Morton RD, Stephens JW, Bain SC, Kilduff LP, Luzio S, Still R, Bracken RM. Isomaltulose improves postexercise glycemia by reducing CHO oxidation in T1DM. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 2011, 43, 204-210.

• Book Chapter

  • Bracken RM, West DJ, Bain SC. Pre-exercise insulin and carbohydrate strategies in the exercising T1DM individual. In: Gallen, I, ed. Type 1 Diabetes: Clinical Management of the Athlete. Springer, 2012, pp.4-71.

• Note

  • Pasieka AM, Nikoletos N, Riddell MC. Advances in Exercise, Physical Activity, and Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics 2016, 18.

• Reviews

  • Smith K, Bowden Davies KA, Stevenson EJ, West DJ. The Clinical Application of Mealtime Whey Protein for the Treatment of Postprandial Hyperglycaemia for People With Type 2 Diabetes: A Long Whey to Go. Frontiers in Nutrition 2020, 7, 587843.
  • O'Mahoney LL, Matu J, Price OJ, Birch KM, Ajjan RA, Farrar D, Tapp R, West DJ, Deighton K, Campbell MD. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids favourably modulate cardiometabolic biomarkers in type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials. Cardiovascular Diabetology 2018, 17, 98.