Psychiatrist-Researcher Dr. Sharon Yeung Explores How Mental Health Shapes Type 1 Diabetes Outcomes

Dr. Sharon Yeung's research sits at an important crossroads: the intersection of type 1 diabetes and mental health. As a psychiatry resident at the University of Toronto and PhD candidate in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research, she is investigating how psychiatric conditions influence diabetes outcomes—not just in one stage of life, but across the entire lifespan.

With support from a Breakthrough T1D Clinician Investigator Fellowship, Yeung is working to generate evidence that could reshape how diabetes and mental health care are delivered. Her goal is to support more integrated, patient-centered approaches that treat the whole person, not just the disease.

Yeung's journey to this work reflects a deliberate choice to blend research and clinical practice. During her undergraduate degree in global health, she faced a decision: pursue research or clinical work. Rather than choose one, she enrolled in a joint medical and graduate school program at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, allowing her to do both.

In that program, she began studying epidemiology—the patterns of health and illness in large populations—a focus she continues today. Her early work concentrated on Indigenous community health, an area she was drawn to through personal and professional relationships developed during her undergraduate years.

The fellowship recognizes Yeung as part of the next generation of researchers working toward better treatments, healthier lives, and ultimately, a world free from type 1 diabetes. By examining how mental health and diabetes interact, her research addresses a gap that many people living with type 1 diabetes experience but that hasn't always received adequate scientific attention.

Breakthrough T1D supports researchers like Yeung because understanding these connections can lead to real improvements in how care is organized and delivered—making it easier for patients to access integrated support that addresses both their diabetes management and their mental health.

Origin: breakthrought1d.ca (News report). Evidence: News report — unverified, pending corroboration. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.