How Genes and Environment Conspire to Trigger Diabetes

[Northerner]

Diabetes appears to be a disease written deeply in human genes, a feature millions of years old, which can emerge yet also retreat through the influence of environmental forces such as diet, a new study suggests.

Researchers looked at how obesity, in particular, can trigger the onset of Type 2 diabetes in both mice and humans by manipulating how genes are expressed.

They found that obesity, in effect, can change the chemical tags associated with DNA, called the epigenome. These epigenetic changes modify how genes behave and can alter the production of proteins necessary for proper metabolism and secretion of insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels.

http://www.livescience.com/49502-genes-environment-trigger-diabetes.html

 

[BobbieH]

That is very interesting. I think genes play a big part. My grandmother, father, his sister and myself with 2 of my 4 siblings all with diabetes. Why have 2 of my siblings escapes?. We all have the same lifestyle almost. We are all from the same gene pool. I realise obesity plays a big part also.