Diabetes

Diabetes is widespread in Western countries and the number of people who suffer from it unknowingly is alarmingly high.

According to estimates by the German Diabetes Society (DDG), about six million Germans are afflicted, but the number of cases that go unreported is considerably higher. Many diabetics do not realise that they are ill until they exhibit symptoms of irreversible damage such as heart, kidney, nerve or retina problems.

The German Diabetes Society has already warned of a steep rise in the number of newly reported diseases. By the year 2010, the number of Germans suffering from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes could reach at least ten million, with an annual cost to the healthcare system of about EURO40bn.

According to information provided by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), some 472 million people, or 9% of the world's adult population, will suffer from diabetes by 2025. About 90% of diabetes patients suffer from Type 2 diabetes.

"Fast food lifestyles" not the only reason for diabetes

The virtual flood of diabetes cases cannot be put down to our changing lifestyles involving poor nutrition and lack of exercise alone; genetic predisposition plays a major part too.

Reliable prevention is therefore becoming more and more important. It not only reduces the potential costs involved but also heightens patient awareness. Those who know they have a genetically higher risk of diabetes will do everything they can to delay the onset of the disease or counteract it by leading healthy lives.

next page »

A number of research teams are probing into genetic predispositions that may be indicative of a higher risk of disease. The object of the Finland-United States Investigation of Non-Insulin-Dependent-Diabetes-Mellitus (FUSION) Genetics, for instance, was to screen 735 Finnish families for genetic mutations that could lead to an increased risk of diabetes.

During this study, the scientists discovered that three genetic loci on chromosome 6 were linked to the disease. The FUSION K scientists also identified linkages with a genetic locus on chromosome 20 that had already been found in studies among other population groups, for example the Ashkenasim Jews.

Research into various genetic loci is generally proven to be rather time-consuming. After all, the genetic loci potentially linked to diseases may vary among ethnically different populations. Among African Americans, who display a particularly high incidence of Type 2 diabetes, for instance, genetic loci have been identified on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 12, 14, 18, and 19. In the case of a group of Japanese, the scientists not only identified the genetic locus but also discovered that the genes were responsible for the age at which the persons were first afflicted by diabetes. Depending on the genotype, the patients' age at the time of diagnosis was either 47 or 52 years.

« previous page  |  next page »

New challenges for diabetes research

As a rule, science produces not only a vast number of data but also of candidate genes. These are genes which, owing to their position and/or function may cause a disease, although their causality has not yet been proven. In the case of diabetes there are currently just under one hundred candidate genes involved.

A broadly based study among light-skinned people has identified eight genes that influence the function function of the pancreas and/or the effect of insulin as "hot" candidates. These include, amongst others, the three "classics": insulin, insulin receptor and sulfonyl urea receptor. It can now be assumed that diabetes is not attributable to individual genes with a strong effect.

Further research will be required in order to determine whether these eight genes can ever be used for predictive risk assessment among the population. It is necessary to clarify to what extent genetic mutations interact and how genetic and environmental factors are linked.

« previous page