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Research offers clue to increased risk of diabetes in South Asian people

30 August 2011

Scientists, studying the DNA of almost 60,000 South Asian people, have found six new genes that might cause type 2 diabetes.

South Asian people are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as the general population. Having diabetes also significantly increases your risk of heart disease.

The study, the first of its kind to look at South Asian people, was partly funded by us and involved scientists from the UK and many South Asian countries. Despite this work, it is still not yet clear why the South Asian population is at so much more risk.

Type 2 diabetes currently affects around 55 million South Asians worldwide and this number is expected to rise to about 80 million by 2030. But having type 2 diabetes is not just decided by what's in our genes. The types of food we eat and the amount of exercise we do can also affect the likelihood of us developing the condition. So it's important for South Asian people to minimise the risks that could be carried in their genes by leading as healthy a lifestyle as possible.

Our Medical Director, Professor Peter Weissberg, said:

“This research may shed light on the genes that put South Asians at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It takes us a step closer to developing better ways of preventing or treating the condition. But it is the interaction between your genes and your lifestyle choices that determines your risk.

“No matter what genes you have, there are simple changes you can make to reduce your risk of developing diabetes. It's vital to act now to avoid developing this chronic condition which currently affects millions of South Asian people in the UK and around the world.”

We have many free resources available for the South Asian community:
http://www.bhf.org.uk/publications/south-asians-and-heart-disease.aspx



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