Analysis of the type 2 diabetes gene, TCF7L2, in 13,795 type 1 diabetes cases and control subjects

Excerpt

To the Editor: The two most common forms of diabetes that have been classified are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is characterised by infiltration of the pancreas by autoreactive T cells and autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, leading to a complete loss of insulin production, whereas type 2 diabetes is associated with the gradual increase of insulin insensitivity in tissues leading to hyperglycaemia and beta cell failure. However, it has been suggested that type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes may share a common genetic aetiology [1]. For example, the accelerator hypothesis suggests that type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are the same disease of hyperglycaemia-induced beta cell damage but that type 1 diabetes has the added effect of autoimmunity [1]. …