Type 2 Diabetes Origin Story Told by Genetics

Cassidy DeMasi

Dr. Barbato

November 23, 2025

Type 2 Diabetes Origins Story Told by Genetics 

Type 2 diabetes affects a large portion of the human population. Type 2 can be hereditary, but it can also be caused by obesity. With increasing obesity levels around the world, the cases of type 2 are skyrocketing. This disease occurs when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin or can't use insulin properly due to insufficient insulin production. This leads to high blood sugar levels. Cells just don't respond effectively to insulin and form insulin resistance. This resistance leads to serious damage in areas such as organs. This includes nerves, kidneys, and eyes.  

Researchers have been trying to determine a genetic regional understanding of Type 2.  They have recently conducted the most ancestrally diverse genome-wide association study for type 2 diabetes using the DNA of 2.5 million people. The article states "that they identified over 600 genetic regions associated with T2D risk, including 145 newly discovered ones," (Largest and Most Diverse Genome-Wide Association Study of Type 2 Diabetes Reveals New Genetic Factors, 2024). The study was a breakthrough for identifying not only where Type 2 first started but also giving insight into why it would have started there.

This work helps close the diversity gap within people who have this disease and reveals genetic signals that would have been missed in less diverse populations. These findings help guide the guide the development of new drugs, and could improve prevention strategies.  Determining, the certain people that it occurred in, without the skew of obesity, could allow scientists to begin to steer a cure in the right direction.

Sources 

Largest and most diverse genome-wide association study of type 2 diabetes reveals new genetic factors. (2024, February 19). @Broadinstitute. https://www.broadinstitute.org/news/largest-and-most-diverse-genome-wide-association-study-type-2-diabetes-reveals-new-genetic-0

Griffin, L. (2016, July 11). Differences Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Research Connection. https://diabetesresearchconnection.org/differences-type-1-type-2-diabetes/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20219775994&gbraid=0AAAAADidujH9Dg3FXqE5RgU39peIJ4fEn&gclid=CjwKCAiA_orJBhBNEiwABkdmjAOownpZINKNX1beqa4h6GIWgFceTceqVVsa1bbXuDCqntH86dxUFRoCIO8QAvD_BwE

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