TEST TO SPOT DIABETES IN YOUR DNA

IMAGINE if, one day, you could predict your risk of pre-diabetes from birth. The knowledge could be life-changing as it would allow people the opportunity to take preventative steps early. It might stop the disease ever developing.

This may sound incredible but scientists are involved in early research which could lead to a DNA test for the condition.

Researchers say it could be as simple as giving a blood sample which would be screened for the genes that make diabetes more likely. An international consortium of researchers, including those from Oxford and Dundee universities, are currently analysing the DNA of hundreds of thousands of people who already have pre-diabetes or type 2.

By following them and seeing how their conditions progress, it is hoped they will be able to identify common factors in their DNA.

This could indicate which people are at risk of pre-diabetes but not type 2, those who will inevitably progress from pre-diabetes to type 2, and those who will not only get type 2 but who will rapidly end up dependent on insulin.

Crucially, it could lead to doctors being able to work out not only who is most at risk, but how best to treat them.

Professor Calum Sutherland, of Dundee University, says: ‘In theory, we should be able to spot cases before symptoms emerge, because the genes are there from birth.

‘We’re not there yet. But the diabetes prevention programmes are heavily biased towards BMI readings, and many of those people perhaps won’t get type 2 in the next ten years. It means they’re taking up resources other higher-risk people could use.’