From Ngquba Village to a PhD in Physiology: Ground-breaking Research on Prediabetes and Pregnancy Health

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The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) proudly celebrates Dr Anelisiwe Siboto, Academic Development Officer and Administrative Officer in the School of Clinical Medicine, on earning her PhD in Physiology.

Her thesis: ‘The Effects of Pregestational Prediabetes as a Risk Factor for Preeclampsia in Pregnant Female Sprague Rats and the Adverse Effects of Pregestational Prediabetes on the Placenta, Liver and Kidney’, was supervised by Dr P S Ngubane, Dr N Sibiya and Professor Andile Khathi.

Siboto’s research revealed a critical health link: prediabetes is a significant risk factor for preeclampsia, and it is associated with both renal and liver dysfunction. Because prediabetes often has no obvious symptoms, many people remain undiagnosed until it progresses to type 2 diabetes. Her work underscores the importance of early screening - especially before and during pregnancy - to prevent adverse outcomes for mothers and babies.

“I am excited that I finally completed my PhD,” Siboto said. “I aspire to contribute to advancing scientific knowledge in research and development, particularly in tackling metabolic disorders and pregnancy complications. My goal is to bridge basic research with practical applications that improve health outcomes.”

Her study was the first of its kind to investigate prediabetes in female animal models. The challenge lay in the fact that existing research protocols were based on male rats. Female rats, due to the protective effects of oestrogen, resisted developing prediabetes under the same conditions. It took 36 weeks - almost double the expected time - to establish a robust female model, an adjustment that ultimately enriched the study’s scientific value and highlighted the importance of sex-specific approaches in medical research.

Born and raised in Ngquba Village, Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape, Siboto’s journey into medical research began with a love for problem-solving and mathematics. She earned her BSc in Microbiology and Biochemistry, then pursued Honours and Master’s degrees in Medical Science at UKZN. Inspired by family members living with diabetes, she channelled her academic curiosity into research that could make a tangible difference in people’s lives.

She credits her family and friends as her greatest source of support, alongside the nurturing environment at UKZN, which she has called home from undergraduate to doctoral level.

Outside of academia, Siboto is passionate about reading scientific literature, enjoys expressing her creativity as a self-trained nail technician, and relaxes with reality TV, particularly The Housewives series.

Her journey exemplifies resilience, innovation, and a deep commitment to advancing women’s health - qualities that will undoubtedly shape her contributions to medical science in the years ahead.

Words: Nombuso Dlamini

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini