Abu Dhabi: A new study by an Emirati researcher has discovered a gene, the PRKD1 gene, which is strongly associated with the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes among the Emirati population.
The study, conducted by Dr Habiba Saeed Al Safar as part of her doctorate in medical sciences, was one of the first attempts to analyse the human genome and determine which specific gene leads to the high prevalence of the metabolic disorder among Emiratis.
"It is known that the UAE has the second highest prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in the world, and incidence among the Emirati population is higher than among expatriates in the country. So there is a real need to find out if there is any genetic reason behind the extremely high incidence among Emiratis," Dr Habiba told Gulf News.
"Only if we know the genes which increase the incidence of Type 2 diabetes will there be a possibility for more effective intervention and prevention programmes for people at risk, as well as better management for those already diagnosed with the condition," she added.
Dr Habiba's study, completed as part of her research at the University of Western Australia, was funded by the Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy and work on it began in 2008.
The Emirati researcher sourced patient data for more than 23,000 Emiratis who frequented government hospitals and primary care centres across the country, before settling on a six-generation Emirati family of 319 members to analyse which genes were associated with the incidence of Type 2 diabetes.
Bloodline
"The family we surveyed is a typical example of an Emirati bloodline, and we used bloodwork and interviews to analyse diabetes incidence and risk; 58 of the members had already been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus [Type 2 diabetes], and we came across eight others who were diabetic but unaware," Dr Habiba said.
"We also discovered five genes, including PRKD1, which had not previously been analysed but which were strongly associated with diabetes risk among Emiratis," she added. The genes are not, however, the only cause for diabetes incidence among the Emirati population.
"Diabetes occurs because a number of genes interact with one another while being enhanced by other environmental factors like a sedentary lifestyle, an unhealthy diet and obesity. I am therefore trying to study at present why and how these genes result in diabetes incidence," Dr Habiba said.
When told of the study, health care professionals in the capital said there was a great need for studies like this. "Currently diabetes incidence is extremely high in the Arabian Gulf, including the UAE, and yet there is not much information about which genes are responsible for this condition among these populations. Finding these genes is definitely key to helping at-risk populations, delay the onset of the condition and manage it," Dr Rakesh Malhotra of New Medical Centre Speciality Hospital said.
Risk factor
Worldwide, diabetes is a major cause for eye problems, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, nerve damage and amputations.
Diabetes incidence:
- 3 million people in GCC
- 20% of UAE population
- 31.6% of deaths caused by diabetes
- $100-200 million health care spending annually
- By 2030, diabetes is expected to affect more than 21.4% of the UAE population between the ages of 20 and 79 years.
