Type 2 Diabetes: Blood Tests Miss Key Genetic Causes, Study Finds
A global study of 2.5 million people reveals that 85% of key genes linked to Type 2 diabetes are not visible in blood tests, changing how the disease is understood
Feb 9, 2026 - Scientists have arrived at a new conclusion about Type 2 diabetes after studying genetic data from 2.5 million people worldwide. According to the research, in about 85% of diabetes cases, the key genes are not visible in blood tests.
Normally, the disease is identified by measuring glucose levels in the blood. However, the study suggests that most causes of the disease are hidden not in the blood, but in the pancreas, liver, muscles and other tissues. The researchers identified 676 genes associated with Type 2 diabetes. Of these, only 18% of the genes were also detectable in blood.
The study included people from different countries and ethnic groups. The results showed that some genes linked to diabetes were common across all communities.
The research was led by scientists from the University of Massachusetts (USA) and Helmholtz Munich (Germany), and published in the scientific journal Nature Metabolism.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and is driven by lifestyle changes, obesity and genetic factors.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), there are over 101 million people with diabetes and 136 million with pre diabetes in India. India has the second highest number of adults (20-79 years) with diabetes in the world.
Source: Media Reports
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