New Type 1 Diabetes Gene Found

Researchers in Philadelphia have discovered a new set of genes which increases the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. The research was carried out by scientists from the Philadelphia Children’s hospital and used the data of 10,000 people afflicted with diabetes and 17,000 people without the disease.

Patients with Type 1 diabetes produce little to no insulin in the body and have to administer insulin daily. Insulin is the hormone produced in the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels in the body and the lack of it results in elevated levels of glucose in the blood which causes the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes.

The research identified changes in the DNA called single-nucleotide polymorphism or SNPs, which shows scientists the gene region associated with the disease. Three new SNP’s were identified and add up to the 50 genes already discovered as linked to Type 1 diabetes.

According to researcher Struan F.A. Grant, PhD, “We’re much further along in finding the full genetic architecture in type 1 diabetes than in any other complex disorder, but there’s clearly much work ahead in translating knowledge to clinical use.”

This research will pave the way for millions of sufferers in the world to have a cure in the future.