Diabetes: Genes Play a Role in Glycemic Control in People With Type 1 Diabetes

Researchers have proven that glycemic control in type 1 diabetes is not fully dependent on the individual's behavior, but is in part subject to genetic influence, according to a presentation here today at the American Diabetes Association' s 69th Scientific Sessions.

"We identified four genes related to glycemic control in type 1 diabetes," said Andrew D. Paterson, MBChB, Senior Scientist in the Program for Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and lead author of the study. "Two of these genes also affect risk for complications -- kidney, eye, and cardiovascular disease -- and one gene has a strong effect on the rate of hypoglycemia. "

"This finding does not give people with diabetes the freedom to slack off on their careful nutrition, exercise, and medication regimens because behavior clearly plays the major role in glycemic control," cautioned Dr. Paterson. "Eventually, the genetic variations we found may be used to identify individuals at risk for poor glycemic control and for diabetic complications, so that steps could be taken to intensify control or implement other measures. But in the interim, this knowledge may influence the design and analysis of genetic studies attempting to identify risk factors for long-term diabetic complications and lead us in new research directions to better understand the mechanisms of glycemic control."