Better health outcomes for pregnant women and their babies is a passion for Dr Ruth Martis.
Dr Martis has been involved in research on breastfeeding, teenage pregnancy, fetal heart-rate monitoring and movement in labour and most recently gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). High blood sugar levels during pregnancy pose risks to both the mother and her developing baby. Through her PhD thesis (which won the University of Auckland’s Dean’s List Award), Dr Martis identified key things that helped and hindered women with GDM from controlling their blood sugar levels. She also found a number of evidence gaps for women with GDM, including lack of information about the best exercise to reduce blood glucose, the best blood glucose target range, treatment outcomes and long-term health costs. Recently named Honorary Research Fellow at the Liggins Institute, Dr Martis is an award-winning speaker, teacher and researcher aiming to make a difference for pregnant women, their babies and whaanau.
Dr. Ruth Martis
Grappling with gestational diabetes
Waikato DHB Medical Science Award
Better health outcomes for pregnant women and their babies is a passion for Dr Ruth Martis.
Dr Martis has been involved in research on breastfeeding, teenage pregnancy, fetal heart-rate monitoring and movement in labour and most recently gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). High blood sugar levels during pregnancy pose risks to both the mother and her developing baby. Through her PhD thesis (which won the University of Auckland’s Dean’s List Award), Dr Martis identified key things that helped and hindered women with GDM from controlling their blood sugar levels. She also found a number of evidence gaps for women with GDM, including lack of information about the best exercise to reduce blood glucose, the best blood glucose target range, treatment outcomes and long-term health costs. Recently named Honorary Research Fellow at the Liggins Institute, Dr Martis is an award-winning speaker, teacher and researcher aiming to make a difference for pregnant women, their babies and whaanau.