DIABETES sufferers in Hampshire could be offered new treatments, thanks to the work of a team of researchers.
A study conducted by the University of Southampton has identified the gene responsible for a condition called Alstrom Syndrome, which causes diabetes, blindness, early hearing loss, kidney failure and heart problems in children.
Prof David Wilson, co-director of the university's Division of Human Genetics, led the research team in Southampton, working with other researchers at the University of Newcastle.
He said: "Alstrom Syndrome is a severe disorder and identifying the cause may lead to new treatments. The children all suffer from insulin resistance, so finding the gene will improve our understanding of the mechanisms of diabetes.
"This, in turn, could have implications for the possible prevention and better treatment of diabetes, which is very common in the UK and worldwide."
The research, details of which will be published in the May issue of the journal Nature Genetics, was funded by Diabetes UK, Britain's leading charity for people with diabetes.
The director of research at the charity, Dr Moira Murphy, said: "This could be a real breakthrough for people with diabetes. We hope that this discovery will help to reveal more about how and why people develop insulin resistance, a key factor in Type 2 diabetes."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article