Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Metabolic Syndrome, Lipids

Abstract

Identifying the genetic variants that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in humans continues to be a challenge. In the search to identify diabetes susceptibility genes, genome-wide association (GWA) studies have revealed not only new loci but also new possible underlying mechanisms and hypotheses of T2DM pathogenesis. The impact of T2DM during childhood on the early development of diabetes complications, including abnormalities in carotid structure and function, as well as the development and progression of microalbuminuria in children with T2DM, has been the subject of a number of recent studies. Research on metformin treatment as protection against cancer incidence and mortality in patients with T2DM is presented. Longitudinal follow-up has demonstrated a high risk of premature mortality among subjects who had features of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) during their childhood. A number of articles published this year have highlighted dilemmas in definitions of the MetS, as well as revelations and challenges [1, 2]. Rapid weight gain in newborns with intrauterine growth retardation and precocious puberty has both been found to be associated with the development of the MetS. Hyperlipidemia among children and adolescents continues to be on the front line, as expressed in an editorial entitled ‘a decade of progress’ [3] and as manifested by the emergence of new drugs for children with familial hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia has been associated to another ‘hot topic’, vitamin D. Finally, we discuss the impact of the contraception pill, now celebrating its 50th anniversary on lipids.