Scientists have found a gene that increased Type 2 diabetes in overweight mice, a development they say may help find new treatment for the condition in humans.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the condition, with an estimated 16 million Americans afflicted with the disease. Often, the development of the disease is caused by obesity.Researchers led by Alan Attie at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studied obese mice and discovered the gene, reported the health portal EurekAlert.
Genetic factors are believed to account for roughly half of an individual's risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Knowing which genes contribute to the onset of the disease would help develop profiles of obese individuals at the greatest risk, Attie said.
--Edited IANS
