Hundreds of scientists sifting through genetic data from 122,000 people have quintupled the number of gene variants known to boost the risk of diabetes, a pair of studies released Sunday reported.
Hundreds of scientists sifting through genetic data from 122,000 people have quintupled the number of gene variants known to boost the risk of diabetes, a pair of studies released Sunday reported.
A consortium of researchers first isolated 10 gene mutations that help determine the body's ability to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels, the key factors underlying type 2 diabetes.
Quiz on Diabetes
Diabetes has replaced every other condition to become the fastest growing lifestyle disease, globally. This disease also impacts children. Some people are more inclined to develop diabetes than others. Do you belong to the high- risk group? Spend 5 minutes to find out.
Diabetes has replaced every other condition to become the fastest growing lifestyle disease, globally. This disease also impacts children. Some people are more inclined to develop diabetes than others. Do you belong to the high- risk group? Spend 5 minutes to find out.
It also fingered an additional three genetic culprits that had already been linked to changes in glucose levels.
"Only four gene variants had previously been associated with glucose metabolism, and just one of them was known to affect type 2 diabetes," said Jose Florez, a researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital and co-lead author of one of the studies.
Diabetes Risk Assessment Calculator
Almost one-third of the people are unaware of the risk factors of diabetes. Find out if you run the risk of diabetes by using Diabetes Risk Assessment calculator.
Almost one-third of the people are unaware of the risk factors of diabetes. Find out if you run the risk of diabetes by using Diabetes Risk Assessment calculator.
One gene in particular, known as GIPR-A, was found to play a prominent role.
Advertisement
HbA1c or A1c Calculator for Blood Glucose
HbA1c calculator calculates average plasma and whole blood glucose levels. A1c test tells your average blood sugar level in the past 3 months and helps check whether your diabetes is in control.
HbA1c calculator calculates average plasma and whole blood glucose levels. A1c test tells your average blood sugar level in the past 3 months and helps check whether your diabetes is in control.
The mutated version, however, impairs this response, resulted in elevated glucose.
Advertisement
Top Ten Facts About Diabetes
Diabetes or diabetes mellitus, is an endocrine and metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time.
Diabetes or diabetes mellitus, is an endocrine and metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time.
The MAGIC -- Meta-Analysis of Glucose and Insulin-related traits Consortium -- investigators noted that other genetic factors related to diabetes remain to be found.
"We've still only identified about 10 percent of the genetic contribution to glucose levels in nondiabetic individuals, so we need to investigate the impact of other possibly more complex or rare forms of gene variation, along with the role of gene-environment interaction, in causing type 2 diabetes," said Florez.
Diabetes is closely linked to lifestyle, especially the kinds and quantity of food we consume.
More than 220 million people worldwide are afflicted with the disease, which kills more than one million people every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
As obesity rates increase, the number of deaths could double between 2005 and 2020, the WHO has said.
Both studies were published online in the journal Nature Genetics.
Source-AFP
SRM
