Predictive value of genomics in the screening of type 2 diabetes: limitations and current status

Abstract

Multiple genetic variants and environmental factors interact resulting in the causation of type 2 diabetes. The advent of genome-wide association studies has accelerated the pace of discovery of genetic variants associated with type 2 diabetes. These variants could potentially be useful for the prediction, prevention, and early treatment of diabetes. Although a number of studies have been conducted on the predictive value of genetic polymorphisms, its value in the general population is unclear. Although in monogenic forms of diabetes genetic screening yields excellent predictive value, genetic profiling for polygenic type 2 diabetes currently appears to be limited in its predictive ability compared with conventional clinical risk scores. Performing a genetic profiling of strongly associated and replicated genetic variants seem to be the way forward, although such analysis is not yet successful. It is hoped that combined analyses of these genetic factors or hitherto unidentified genes would help in better genetic prediction of type 2 diabetes in the future.