Genetics of type 2 diabetes mellitus

For years, it has been well known that genetic factors are crucially important for the development of type 2 diabetes. Despite major efforts in seeking to understand the molecular genetic basis, until a few years ago, only a handful of genes responsible for relatively rare monogenic and syndromic subsets of diabetes were detected, and progress in finding genetic predispositions to common type 2 diabetes was lacking. Even though the unravelling of the molecular pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes is still in its infancy, the last few years have, nevertheless, brought some interesting developments. Box 13.3.1.1 provides a glossary of terms used currently in genetics.