“Hereditary factors in diabetes”

As noted by the IFW Foundation (2004), it has long been understood that there is a hereditary factor involved in many types of diabetes: however, it is only comparatively recently that the genetic factor has been investigated more closely. Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the immune system mistakes insulin-producing cells for foreign bodies, and attacks them. It has now been discovered that the genes which are responsible for this immune response are located on chromosome 6; they can be found in the vast majority of those with Type 1, and are a good indicator of those who are likely to develop the condition at some point. The more information which becomes available about the genetic factor, the more likely it is that accurate screening can be established, and appropriate forms of gene therapy developed.
The situation with regard to Type 2 diabetes is more complicated: as the IFW Foundation notes, there are various forms of Type 2, and it appears that there are multiple genes involved in each form. Whilst those responsible for the rarer types have been identified, this is not the case for the more c...