An international team of scientists including Professor Philippe Froguel of Imperial College, London has identified a group of genetic variants that they believe can flag the risk of type 2 diabetes in 70 percent of all cases. The research points the way to new genetic tests that will be able to identify most of the population at risk of adult-onset diabetes. Once they are identified, a combination of diet and exercise could head off the disease. Their work could also advance fresh therapies for treating diabetes. One of the genetic variants for SLC30A8 involves the transfer of mineral zinc in the body, which is needed for the production of insulin.
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