Genetics of Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract
Diabetes Mellitus is a medical disorder characterized by elevated blood sugar, particularly after eating. There are two types of Diabetes Mellitus: type 1, also called juvenile type diabetes, and type 2 diabetes, which is also called adult onset diabetes. Unlike in type 1 diabetes, where the beta cells of the pancreas are progressively destroyed and can not produce insulin, in type 2 diabetes, the cells of the body lose sensitivity to insulin. Insulin acts as a chaperone, which helps to transport glucose from the blood stream into the cells. When either no insulin is produced, or cells are not sensitive to insulin, sugar (glucose) will not be transported into the cells and will remain in the blood, leading to increased blood sugar. The name "adult onset diabetes" for type 2 diabetes, implies that the first symptoms of disease appear after at least 25 years of age, however, some pediatric studies demonstrated that insulin insensitivity (type 2 diabetes) may be found in children of 6 month of age.

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• Estimated risk for development of Type 2 Diabetes in the presence of family  history of the disease
• Specific genes that have been implicated in the development of Type 2 diabetes
• Ethnicity as a risk factor
• Genetic screening