Telomeres: Genetic Markers That May Predict Diabetes

Filed in archive Developments , Research on April 12, 2007

Pre-diabetes or obesity-linked type 2 diabetes is a condition that increases the risk for coronary disease.

People with such condition can now be tested of a genetic marker called telomeres in order to predict their future of a coronary heart disease: detection of the shortening of telomeres could indicate the onset of diabetes and may ultimately predict the risk for coronary heart disease.

People with pre-diabetes or obesity-linked type 2 diabetes, who are at increased risk for coronary heart disease, have much shorter telomeres than healthy people, the researchers noted.

Telomeres also become shorter as a person progresses from pre-diabetes to full diabetes.

Diabetics are more susceptible to oxidization and inflammation, and this could contribute to telomere shortening.

Such were the results of a study from the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation in India.

Finding were presented recently at the annual meeting of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Find more details from the full report.