Associate professor
Department of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine

Dr. Carreau is a specialist in endocrinology and metabolism. She also completed research training, including an MD/MSc in physiology at the University of Sherbrooke. She underwent additional research training as part of the clinician-scientist program at the University of Sherbrooke, where she studied the metabolic effects of bariatric surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes. Subsequently, she pursued further research training in the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of Colorado, Children’s Hospital Colorado, where she studied the link between polycystic ovary syndrome and hepatic steatosis in adolescents living with obesity. She has developed expertise in hepatic steatosis and non-invasive assessment of liver metabolism in patients.

Research Program – Understanding the Links Between Hepatic Steatosis and Diabetes

Metabolic hepatic steatosis is a very common health problem (affecting 30% of adults) that can progress in some individuals to severe forms of liver disease such as cirrhosis. The main risk factor for progression to severe disease identified to date is type 2 diabetes. Up to 10% of patients with type 2 diabetes may have advanced hepatic steatosis (cirrhosis or pre-cirrhosis). Unfortunately, the disease does not cause symptoms, and the vast majority of patients are diagnosed only at the cirrhosis stage when the disease may be difficult to reverse.

My research program aims to 1) better understand the metabolic risk factors associated with the progression of hepatic steatosis to severe disease in patients with metabolic or endocrine disorders, 2) better understand the metabolic pathophysiology associated with progression, and 3) improve the treatment of the disease at an early stage through metabolic treatments.