Artigos Originais, Revisões e Atualizações August 01, 2002 August 01, 2002

The Genetic Bases of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

DOI: 10.1590/S0004-27302002000400014

The pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is complex, but it is secondary to a combination of insulin resistance and pancreatic b-cell dysfunction that manifests itself as inadequate insulin secretion in the face of hyperglycemia. Several studies have established a clear genetic predisposition for T2DM. Some genes for monogenic forms of diabetes have been identified (MODY, mitochondrial diabetes). However, few genes were found to be associated with diabetes in the more common forms of T2DM. In these T2DM forms, a variety of environmental factors play a major role in the clinical expression of disease. This article addresses the clinical and genetic advances in the genetic bases of T2DM.