Genomes.io launches a Health Report for Type Two Diabetes
Team Genomes are excited to announce the launch of a Type 2 diabetes health report on our infrastructure, providing our vault holders with crucial insight into their genome.
Diabetes Mellitus (diabetes) is a prevalent metabolic disorder characterised by elevated blood glucose levels due to insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production. As of 2022/23 diabetes affects around 4.4 million people in the UK, with type 2 accounting for close to 90% of these cases. In America approximately 38 million people are affected, with a similar theme of around 90% being type 2.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors that impair the body’s ability to produce and/or use insulin effectively. A primary cause is insulin resistance, where the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin. This resistance involves both issues with insulin receptors on the cell surface and disruptions in the intracellular signaling pathways that manage glucose uptake. As a result, glucose remains in the blood, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.
While the condition is commonly associated with being overweight or physically inactive, genetics can also play a role. Although the inheritance pattern is not entirely understood, having a family history of type 2 can increase your risk. Certain genes can influence how your body produces and uses insulin, making some individuals more prone to insulin resistance.
Symptoms can include frequent urination, constant thirst, persistent fatigue and unexplained weight loss. It can significantly affect daily life, requiring individuals to adopt lifestyle changes such as modifying their diet, taking prescribed medications, and attending regular medical check-ups.
You can read more about the condition here
Why are we doing this?
With these reports it is our goal to provide our users with crucial insights about their health using genomic data so they can better understand who they are and act effectively to live a long, healthy and happy life.
One of our other aims at Genomes is to safely and equitably contribute to scientific research that benefits the future health of all of us. We are very happy to be working towards this through our health reports. We invite you to embark on this exciting journey with us!
IMPORTANT NOTE: The information provided in our report is genotypic, and is not intended as medical advice or as a diagnosis. If you have any concerns based on the results, we strongly recommend consulting a medical professional who can provide the appropriate guidance and support.
How the report works
Our reports make use of Genome Wide Association studies (GWAS) which compare affected individuals against unaffected individuals in order to identify susceptibility genes. The data from GWAS studies allow us to calculate a polygenic risk score based on your sequenced genome.
The GWAS studies work by examining Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), which are a single base pair change in your DNA sequence. These act as genetic markers, which can be seen in affected individuals and associated with nearby genes. Once there has been association made this can be further examined by looking on online databases, allowing the confirmation of it being a risk or susceptibility gene.
The test will show you a polygenic risk score, which allows you to see the risk of developing the disease based on your genetic variations. No raw data will ever leave your vault, with the reports being generated within your web account.
To run your test and get your personalised results, head over to your dashboard at Genomes.io.
As always, feel free to connect with us via info@genomes.io should you have any further questions. We are happy to help wherever we can.
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