Genetic factors drive early onset and complications of type 2 diabetes in British Asians

The main cause of early-onset type 2 diabetes in British Asians is a genetic predisposition to lower insulin production and less healthy fat distribution. These genetic factors also cause earlier onset of health complications, earlier need for insulin treatment, and weaker response to some drugs, according to new research from Queen Mary University of London.

The findings of this study were announced today. natural medicinethere is a growing need to understand how genetic variation between different population groups influences disease development, treatment response, and disease progression.

Queen Mary researchers are launching the 'Genes & Health' cohort, a community-based study of more than 60,000 British-Bangladesh and British-Pakistani volunteers who have generously donated their DNA for genetic research. data was used. Researchers reliably linked the genetic information of 9,771 Genes & Health volunteers diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and 34,073 non-diabetic controls to NHS health records and found out why South Asians Developed type diabetes and often found out that BMI is normal. to white Europeans.

In contrast to previous studies that rarely included people of South Asian descent, this study used a partitioned polygenic score (pPS) to identify the underlying causes of type 2 diabetes specifically in people of South Asian descent. revealed the genetic characteristics of

Key findings from the study include:

• Genetic characteristics of South Asians: Younger age of onset in South Asians is strongly associated with genetic characteristics that lead to both reduced insulin production and unfavorable patterns of body fat distribution and obesity. The most important genetic characteristic that influences whether South Asians develop type 2 diabetes at a young age is a reduced ability of pancreatic beta cells to produce insulin. This genetic trait also increases the risk of gestational diabetes and of progression from gestational diabetes to type 2 diabetes after pregnancy.

• Treatment response: The genetic characteristics identified in this study provide important clues about how different people respond to treatment for type 2 diabetes. For example, people with a higher genetic risk for reduced insulin production are less likely to respond to common drugs such as sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and more likely to require insulin therapy.

  
  
  

• High genetic risk groups have been identified: This study identified a subset of people with extreme genetics for both reduced insulin production and unfavorable fat distribution. These people were found to develop type 2 diabetes on average eight years earlier and at a lower BMI. Over time, these people are more likely to require insulin treatment and are at higher risk for diabetic complications such as eye and kidney disease.

Sarah Finer, Honorary Diabetes Consultant and Clinical Professor of Diabetes at Queen Mary University of London, said: “Thanks to the involvement of so many British Bangladeshi and British Pakistani volunteers in genetics and health, we now know why “We were able to find important clues about whether people develop type 2 diabetes.” This study shows us how important it is to move away from a 'one-size-fits-all' approach in managing type 2 diabetes. This allows us to find ways to provide more precise treatments that treat symptoms more effectively and reduce the incidence of diabetes complications. ”

It remains to be seen whether genetic tools are needed to bring precision diabetes medicines to people in South Asia, or whether existing clinical tests such as C-peptide, which can be measured with a simple blood test, can be better and more widely used. No. Genes & Health will contribute to future efforts to ensure precision medicine approaches are developed to deliver real benefits to South Asian communities living with or at risk for type 2 diabetes. ”

Dr. Moneeza K. Siddiqui, Lecturer in Genetic Epidemiology, Queen Mary University of London

People of South Asian descent are underrepresented in genetic research. Queen Mary's Genes & Health is a community-based cohort of over 60,000 British Bangladeshi and British Pakistani volunteers who provide genetic information and links to NHS health data for research. The research has so far led to major discoveries that could improve the health of British South Asians.

This research was supported by Barts Charity and Wellcome.