By Amanda Gardner
Scientists have identified a gene variant present in some people of white European descent who have type 2 diabetes. Although it’s not yet clear how the gene works, it may prove a future target for treatments, among other benefits, say the authors of a study published March 2 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
As with so many gene studies, however, these findings aren’t likely to translate into anything clinically meaningful soon.
“This shows an association between this gene and an increased risk of diabetes compared to the general population,” said Dr. Steven D. Wittlin, clinical director of the endocrine-metabolism division and director of the Diabetes Service at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
“If we can find out how this gene is associated with diabetes from a pathophysiological point of view, then we can figure out how to intervene, but that’s a lot of ifs, and right now we have 92.5 percent of people with diabetes who don’t have this gene,” said Wittlin, who was not involved in the study.
Between 7 and 8 percent of the patients involved in this study had the gene variant, the researchers found.
Some 250 million people around the world have type 2 diabetes, a disorder in which glucose is not properly metabolized in the body.
The main risk factors for type 2 diabetes are age, being overweight or obese, and family history. Native Americans, blacks and Hispanics also have a higher prevalence of the disease than whites. Continue Reading
