Non-performing gene behind our
diabetes.
In a major scientific breakthrough a research project led by a Chennai-based
diabetologist has found that the non-performance of a partocvular gene in the blood of most Indians is making them more prone to
diabetes The gene-PPAR- Gamma—is known to protect people of most races from diabetes.
According to the group of 85 researchers ,led by eminent Chennai-based diabetologist Prof V. Mohan in a project funded by the department of biotechnology, this single factor is making Indians more prone to diabetes ,India has around 40 million diabetics , the highest number in any one country, .Nearly 12-16% of India’s urban population is diabetic.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was informed of this fining on Monday while DBT was told a week ago .The study ,conducted simultaneously on a white population in Dallas and on Indians in Chennai ,zeroed in on PPAR-Gamma gene after systematically studying 30 other gene types.
Dr Mohan also announced the discovery at the Nobel Forum in Sweden and at the European Association of Study of Diabetes conference in Athens last week.
The research team is now working to trace the main cause behind PPAR-Gamma gene’s malfunction and whether gene therapy can be developed to make the gene protect Indians from diabetes.
PPAR-Gamma gene is known to protect the body from diabetes .But in Indians ,it is not functioning .We have also found that Indians have an increased genetic susceptibility to diabetes and greater degree of insulin resistance compared to Europeans .They also have greater fat deposits in the intra-abdominal areas which contributes to the risk of diabetes said Mohan,
A fresh of life for 97-year-old diabetic
Usmangani Qureshi is something of a medical miracle .At 97. his first ever visit to a
hospital was on September 10.He was brought in a comatose condition and it was a terminal case, hospital sources said Hehad a glucose count of 1,200 mg percent as against the normal range of 80-140.Anything above 500-600 mg percent is considered dangerous.It was almost as if had jaggery flowing in his veins.Most patients do not live to see such high blood sugar levels,Amin Hamidani of Apollo Hospital told TOI.
Qureshi was brought to the hospital with failed kidneys and septicemia .His blood pressure had dipped to 80/40 and his potassium levels were high.We got the levels retested and reconfirmed .But Qureshi responded well to the treatment and has survived ,miraculously, Hamidani added.