Scientists from the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Lund University and Novartis today announced the discovery of three unsuspected regions of human DNA that contain clear genetic risk factors for type 2 diabetes, and another that is associated with elevated blood triglycerides.

An older type of long-acting insulin is as effective in treating type 2 diabetes as newer and more expensive kinds, according to the results of a recent systematic review. However, the newer medications may cause fewer problems with low blood glucose while patients are sleeping.

A new commitment from state and federal governments to tackle the growing problem of diabetes has been welcomed by doctors and a national support group, but they say much more is needed.

Scientists have identified the most clear genetic link yet to obesity in the general population as part of a major study of diseases funded by the Wellcome Trust, the UK's largest medical research charity. People with two copies of a particular gene variant have a 70% higher risk of being obese than those with no copies.

A new Joslin-led study has identified the insulin receptor as an important protein that promotes islet cell growth in mice whose bodies are unable to use insulin properly, or are insulin resistant, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.