Type-2 diabetes affects millions of people worldwide, with India having the second-highest number of cases. However, recent genetic research conducted in Sweden and India has yielded promising results that could lead to better treatment for the disease in India.
Subgroup Classification System Confirmed in India
Scientists in Sweden had previously discovered that diabetes can be divided into five subgroups based on genetic differences. Now, a study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia journal has confirmed that this classification system is applicable to a group in western India. This discovery provides a better understanding of the development of Type 2 diabetes in India.
Similarities and Differences in Genetic Subgroups
The study is based on clinical data from 2,217 patients and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on 821 people with Type 2 diabetes from western India. The researchers found that all subgroups seen in European people with diabetes were reflected in the Indian participants. They also confirmed their previous findings that a certain form of Type 2 diabetes, characterized by low BMI, is the most common form of the disease in India. This subgroup is called severe insulin-deficient diabetes (SIDD), which is characterized by early onset, low insulin secretion, and poor metabolic control. 47% of Indian participants were classified as belonging to the SIDD group.
Early Life Undernutrition May Contribute to Early Onset Type 2 Diabetes in India
Previous studies on populations in Sweden have shown that mild age-related diabetes (MARD) is the most common form of diabetes among Swedish people. The study also suggests that early-life undernutrition in Indians may be a significant factor in early-onset Type 2 diabetes. This knowledge may be used to prevent the disease in India, which has a high number of cases.
Conclusion
This study highlights important genetic similarities and differences between different forms of Type 2 diabetes in India and Europe. It provides an exciting new step toward a better understanding of the development of Type 2 diabetes in India and offers hope for improved treatment in the future. The knowledge gained from this study may be used to prevent the disease in India, which has a high number of cases.
