Battle against diabetes takes big step forward

Ten further DNA “hotspots” linked to the most common form of diabetes have been uncovered by scientists, taking the total to more than 60.

Experts probed deeper than ever into the genetic differences between individuals that affect the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Lead investigator Professor Mark McCarthy, from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics at Oxford University, said: “The ten gene regions we have shown to be associated with Type 2 diabetes are taking us nearer a biological understanding of the disease.”