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6 New Genes That Trigger Diabetes In South Asians Discovered
Tue, 30 Aug 2011
A global study of almost 60,000 people has identified six new genes that are responsible for the early onset of type 2 diabetes in South Asians, who are up to four times more likely to develop the disease than their European counterparts.

Researchers from around the world examined the DNA of 18,731 people with type 2 diabetes and 39,856 healthy controls in South Asian countries. The genomes of the participants were analysed to look for locations where variations were more common in those with diabetes .

The results, which were published in Nature Genetics, identified six positions where differences of a single letter in the genetic code were associated with type 2 diabetes, suggesting that nearby genes have a role in its developmen t.

Dr John Chambers, senior author of the study, from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London, said: "Type 2 diabetes is more common in South Asian populations than any other ethnic group, but the reason for this increased risk is unclear. Although lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and obesity are important causes of diabetes in South Asians, these are only part of the explanation."

"Genetic factors have been widely considered to play a role in the increased risk of type 2 diabetes in Asians, but to date have not been systematically explored in this population."

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, which co-funded the study, said: "This research may shed light on the genes that put South Asians at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes ."

"It takes us a step closer to developing better ways of preventing or treating the condition. But it is the interaction between your genes and your lifestyle choices that determines your risk."

He added: "No matter what genes you have, there are simple changes you can make to reduce your risk of developing diabetes . It’s vital to act now to avoid developing this chronic condition which currently affects millions of South Asian people in the UK and around the world."

Type 2 diabetes currently affects around 55 million South Asians worldwide and this number is expected to rise to around 80 million by 2030.
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