Prevalence of beta allele of the insulin gene in type II diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Fifty-two patients and 36 controls were compared in a search for insulin gene variants among type II diabetic patients with fasting hyperinsulinemia (above 90 microU/ml) and a fasting C-peptide to insulin molar ratio between 1.11 and 1.50. Alpha and beta alleles of the insulin gene were characterized by restriction analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products and direct sequencing. The more frequent occurrence of the alpha allele of the insulin gene within the control population as compared with a prevalence of the beta allele in the diabetic patients (P, 0.05) was observed. The beta allele, usually described as the rare allele, seems to be associated with the disease.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, cognitive impairment and dementia

“…A defect at any step in the above pathway could manifest as a resistance to insulin and would lead to increased levels of blood glucose due to decreased glycogen synthesis. Some studies have suggested an association between Type 2 DM and polymorphic variation in the insulin gene[127], the IRS‐1 gene[128, 129] and the PP1G gene[130]. Recently there has been interest in the genetic role of GSK‐3 in Type 2 DM but a functional polymorphism associated with the disease has not yet been substantiated[131].…”