Diabetes genes in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

Article Abstract:

Research on non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) has switched its focus from the cellular mechanisms of the disease to the genetic aspects. Earlier studies have found that glucose production, glucose clearance and the insulin-regulation of both processes are defective in patients with NIDDM.The search is on for gene abnormalities that may cause these defects, but no genetic mutation has yet been linked with NIDDM. A recent study identified two alleles, A1 and A2, for the gene for glycogen synthase, an enzyme that plays a key role in glycogen synthesis. Thirty percent of the patients with NIDDM had at least one A2 allele compared with only 8% of the healthy individuals. Patients with the A2 allele also had a stronger family history of NIDDM, a greater incidence of high blood pressure and a significantly worse response to insulin. Future research on the genetic mutations behind NIDDM may have significant implications for its diagnosis and treatment.

Editorial, Genetic aspects, Type 2 diabetes

---

Intensive diabetes therapy and carotid intima-media thickness in type 1 diabetes mellitus

Article Abstract:

Intensive insulin therapy that maintains a glycosylated hemoglobin level of about 7% can slow the progression of atherosclerosis, according to a study of 1,229 people with type 1, or juvenile-onset, diabetes. In this case, the researchers measured the progession of atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries, which are located in the neck. This same study showed that intensive insulin therapy can reduce the risk of many of the complicatiions of diabetes.

Care and treatment, Prevention, Atherosclerosis, Carotid artery diseases

---

Closing in on type 1 diabetes

Article Abstract:

Research on type 1, or juvenile-onset, diabetes shows how T cells probably cause the destruction of the pancreatic cells that produce insulin. A boy with a complete B cell deficiency still developed type 1 diabetes, which shows that B cells and autoantibodies are not necessarily involved. This boy also had a genetic variant in the HLA genes that predisposes people to type 1 diabetes.

Research

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Association between duration of obesity and risk of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: the Sotetsu Study
• Abstracts: Do non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease share common antecedents?
• Abstracts: Perinatal mortality and congenital malformations in infants born to women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus - United States, Canada, and Europe, 1940-1988
• Abstracts: The effect of intensive diabetes therapy on the development and progression of neuropathy
• Abstracts: Adherence to guidelines for antiretroviral therapy and for preventing opportunistic infections in HIV-infected adults and adolescents in Ryan White-funded facilities in the United States

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.