Track 18: Genetics of Diabetes :
A heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by chronic hyperglycemia is diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes (T1D, historically known as insulin-based diabetes or IDDM) and type 2 diabetes are the two most prevalent types of diabetes (T2D, previously known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes or NIDDM). Both are caused by a mixture of risk factors that are genetic and environmental. There is other rare types of diabetes that are specifically hereditary are available. This includes diabetes at the start of puberty in the young (MODY) and diabetes due to mitochondrial DNA mutations. A greater probability of acquiring T1D than the general population of unrelated persons (approximately 6 percent vs. <1 percent). The genetic variables are related to the progression of the disease. Currently, there is evidence that genetic susceptibility to T1D may include more than 20 regions of the genome. T2D is inherited, in part. Family tests have found that first-degree relatives of persons with T2D are around 3 times more likely than those without a positive family history of the condition to inherit the disease.
- People need to inherit risk factors from both parents in most cases of type 1 diabetes. Since white people have the highest prevalence of type 1 diabetes, we agree these variables need to be more prevalent in white people.
- Researchers want to figure out what the environmental causes are so most patients who are at risk do not develop diabetes. Cold weather may be correlated with one cause.