New Genetic Loci Associated with Type 2 Diabetes Risk

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar in the blood which affects 2.8% of the world population. Type 2 Diabetes results from insulin resistance which may be combined with reduced insulin secretion (impaired beta cell function) and accounts for 90-95% of the U.S. diabetes population. Insulin is a hormone that causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, so reduced insulin secretion or insulin resistance will result in higher blood glucose levels.

The researchers in this report conducted association studies concentrating on the identification of genetic variants that affect fasting glucose levels in adult non-diabetics of European descent. They ended up identifying nine new SNPs associated with fasting glucose levels and one SNP associated with insulin resistance, as well as confirmed a number of previously-found associations. In addition, among these SNP loci, five were identified as having an association with type 2 diabetes risk.

This study demonstrates that genetic studies of glycemic traits can identify type 2 diabetes risk loci. It is essential that there is a continued identification of these loci, which would allow for individuals to undergo more effective genetic predisposition tests for the condition, so that measured steps may be taken to minimalize chances of contracting type 2 diabetes for those individuals.

Link to Article: http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v42/n2/abs/ng.520.html

Dupris, Josée et al. “New Genetic Loci Implicated in Fasting Glucose Homeostasis and Their Impact on Type 2 Diabetes Risk”. Nature Genetics 42.2 (2010): 105-116.