Why do people get diabetes?
The exact cause of diabetes is not fully understood.
Currently, it is believed that diabetes is mainly caused by the interaction of various genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors make some people more susceptible to diabetes, but without the influence of environmental factors, disease onset is not inevitable.
The environmental risk factors for type 1 diabetes are mainly viral infections and chemical substances.
The main environmental risk factor for type 2 diabetes is obesity. Men with a waist circumference greater than 90cm and women with a waist circumference greater than 85cm are considered to have central obesity, which increases the likelihood of developing diabetes.
Other factors such as insufficient physical activity, excessive consumption of animal fats in the diet, excessive protein (meat), and inadequate consumption of rice and vegetables (decreased fiber) are also related to diabetes.
One of the latest studies on the etiology of diabetes
One of the latest studies on the etiology of diabetes conducted by a European research institution is the work by the Institute of Metabolic Science at the University of Cambridge, UK. This study, published in the journal “Nature Genetics” in 2021, focused on uncovering the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying type 2 diabetes.
The study aimed to identify novel genetic variants associated with type 2 diabetes and to understand how these variants contribute to the disease pathogenesis. The researchers conducted a large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving thousands of participants from diverse populations.
The study identified several new genetic loci associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Notably, it highlighted the role of genes involved in pancreatic beta-cell function and insulin secretion, as well as genes implicated in adipose tissue biology and inflammation. The findings provided new insights into the biological pathways that are dysregulated in type 2 diabetes and could potentially lead to the development of more targeted therapeutic interventions.
This research not only expanded the catalog of genetic risk factors for type 2 diabetes but also deepened our understanding of the complex interplay between genetics and environmental factors in the development of this prevalent metabolic disorder.
