Iranian scientist discovers a gene that protects against type 2 diabetes (study)

An international group of researchers headed by the Iranian scientist, Omid Gudarzi, has identified a new genetic mutation that protects people from developing type 2 diabetes.

We have a wonderful opportunity to customize the treatment and prevention of this chronic disease (...) The identification of genes that influence the risk of diabetes will open new borders in the development of diabetes medications.

"We have a wonderful opportunity to customize the treatment and prevention of this chronic disease," said Dr. Gudarzi, director of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the Cedars-Sinai hospital, in Los Angeles (USA).

"The identification of genes that influence the risk of diabetes will open new borders in the development of diabetes medicines," added the Persian scientist.

In the study led by Gudarzi, they analyzed the genes of 81,000 American people who do not have type 2 diabetes and then compared their genetic information with that of 16,000 diabetics.In this way they discovered that a genetic mutation in a particular gene -glp1r- appeared to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 14 %.

The mutation we discover can prevent certain people from developing diabetes, but does not seem to affect the body mass index or the risk of becoming obese

They also tried to determine if the genetic mutation rates were also present in those affected by obesity, considered a risk factor for developing diabetes.

"The mutation we discover can prevent certain people from developing diabetes, but does not seem to affect the body mass index or the risk of becoming obese," Gudarzi said.

This finding could lead to the development of new pharmacological treatments for the treatment of millions of type 2 diabetics in the world that depend on insulin and oral medications to control the disease that threatens life and for which there is no cure.

Type 2 diabetes affects insulin production, the vital hormone of glucose regulator, and its ability to control metabolism.The inability of the body to control blood sugar can cause heart attacks and other serious health problems, such as kidney disease, blindness and infections that can result in limb amputation.