Professor Glenn McConell completed his research project titled “Investigation of the regulation of insulin sensitivity after exercise in people with type 2 diabetes” at the University of Copenhagen, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS) with a grant from Danish Diabetes Academy (DDA) (now known as Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy).

We have asked Glenn McConell to reflect on his time as a DDA-funded researcher.

What are the most exciting/important/unexpected findings of your research project so far?

Each bout of exercise improves glucose metabolism for 24-48 hours. This increase in insulin sensitivity is very important as it reduces the chances of developing diabetes. For many years it was believed that exercise has these beneficial effects by effecting the signaling within the muscle fibers.  Although this is correct, we have now shown that glucose delivery by the blood is equally important. In addition, unexpectedly, we showed that the so-called gold standard for measuring insulin sensitivity isn’t overly useful to examine how exercise improves insulin sensitivity in real life.

How is your research project relevant to the public?

Given that insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes are increasing greatly worldwide, and exercise is beneficial to these, our research is very important. Indeed, exercise can prevent and help treat type 2 diabetes. Understanding how exercise has these beneficial effects is critical to our understanding of how to prevent and treat metabolic diseases. This is especially true as it is now clear that, in addition to diabetes, both cancer and cardiovascular disease have a metabolic disease component.

What is the biggest difference between doing research in Denmark and the country you work in?

The main difference is the much higher level of funding for diabetes related research in Denmark compared with Australia. The success rate of grant applications to our main government medical research granting body the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has fallen to around 8%. On a couple of occasions, I would have a near miss at NHMRC and then would be funded in Denmark when submitting through my main Danish collaborator Professor Erik Richter. In addition, Professor Erik Richter is a world authority on glucose metabolism and exercise and his complex, invasive human methodologies meant we could undertake cutting-edge research that could not be done elsewhere in the world.

What have you gained as a visiting researcher?

Great experiences collaborating with top researchers and truly excellent students in the number one University in the world for exercise science research (the University of Copenhagen). This has included the research itself but also presenting and interacting at DDEA summer schools which I felt were an excellent model for collaboration and developing relationships/friendships. And spending time in wonderful Copenhagen and other parts of Denmark with quick dashes to other parts of Europe which are so much closer than when in Australia!

What was a highlight in your time as a DDA-funded visiting professor?

The research itself. Being able to answer questions in humans using a combination of such complex invasive methods kind of blew me away. Femoral artery and femoral vein catheters in both legs to measure glucose going in to and out of a rested and previously exercised leg, with repeat muscle biopsies, microdialysis probes in the muscle to measure glucose, measuring blood flow etc all at once.  Other places in the world one can do one or more of these but not all in the one participant. Just awesome.

Why should other international senior researchers apply for a DDEA Visiting Researcher Grant? (Formerly known as Visiting Professorship)

The funding to spend a chunk of time in Denmark in a supportive well-funded research environment, interactions with world leading researchers and truly excellent students, being involved in the fantastic DDEA summer schools, checking out amazing Copenhagen and Denmark, with close access to Europe etc. Especially if you’re in Copenhagen; riding bikes everywhere, Tivoli, Christmas markets!  What’s not to love?! Also, I found everyone at DDEA an absolute pleasure to deal with! Very helpful and generous (financially in regard to the grant itself and with their time, passion and collegiality). 

What is next for you?

I am now an Emeritus Professor which means I am pretty much retired. I do, however, have a Podcast called Inside exercise where I interview the who’s who of exercise research. Taking on the influencers! This has included interviewing many current and previous DDA/DDEA funded researchers plus others from all over the world. 89 episodes so far. Check it out! Also travelling a lot.

Glenn McConell’s closest collaborators have been his colleagues Professor Erik Richter and Professor Jorgen Wojtaszewski.

We wish Glenn McConell all the best in his Podcast career and travels.