The journal Nature Genetics reports that scientists have discovered two genetic variants that affect a baby’s size at birth. One variant also increases a baby’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
It is already documented how low birth weight babies have a greater risk of becoming diabetic but the reason is not known.
Professor Mark McCarthy leads the diabetes research group at the University of Oxford. He says, "It’s become clear in the last 10 to 20 years that there’s a rather strange connection between birth weight and subsequent risk of diabetes and heart disease, for example."
Studies have found that a woman’s eating habits during pregnancy influence the growth of her baby, but also the risk of future diseases.
However, genes also play a significant role in the phenomenon, including the CDCY5 variant that is linked to an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Professor McCarthy adds, "We actually found some strong genetic effects and were able to identify two specific genetic regions that were quite strongly associated with birth weight."
Babies who inherit both genetic variants are more at risk, not only to be a lower birth weight, but also of developing diabetes as adults.
Type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly common and is a disease that interferes with the body’s ability to properly process sugar and insulin.