The test can identify around half of people who will develop type 2 diabetes said researchers speaking at the British Science Festival in Birmingham.
It works by detecting levels of a genetic molecule in their blood, it was claimed.
The same molecule, called a microRNA (MiR), could help pinpoint sufferers at high risk of heart and artery disease.
Amongst the two million people in Britain who already have diabetes, the test can also distinguish between those who will and will not go on to develop some of the complications of diabetes caused by damage to blood vessels, such as heart attack, stroke and poor circulation.
The lead scientist Dr Manuel Mayr, from King's College London, said he expected the MiR test to be used in conjunction with conventional methods. It is likely to cost around £2.
Its biggest advantage was that it directly assessed the damage diabetes was causing to blood vessels.
"It's very important for doctors to define those diabetic patients that are at the highest risk of developing cardiovascular complications," said Dr Mayr.
"We hope that this new class of blood markers may give additional insight that we're currently not getting from other clinical tests."
Being able to identify which people with diabetes are particularly at risk of having a heart attack or stroke should allow doctors to begin early treatment with cholesterol and blood pressure lowering drugs and target it at those who are most likely to benefit.
Treating diabetes costs the NHS £9bn a year.
One type of micro-RNA, known as MiR-126, protects blood vessels from damage.
Healthy blood vessel cells are able to release substantial MiR-126 in to the blood stream.
However, when they become damaged, they need to keep the MiR-126 for themselves and shed less in to the blood.
Dr Mayr studied 822 adults aged between 40 and 79 living in northern Italy.
Of the two types of diabetes, type 2, or adult onset, diabetes is much more common.
Read more at The Telegraph
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