Genetic link between melatonin receptor and type 2 diabetes

Researchers have found evidence supporting a genetic link between the receptor for the “body clock” hormone melatonin and type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have found that those who work night shifts were more likely to have the disease, and now it appears that those with a genetic mutation affecting the receptor of the hormone that regulates the body’s sleep-wake cycle have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Mutations in the melatonin 2 (MT2) gene could disrupt the link between the release of insulin and body clock, making the body’s control of blood sugar abnormal. “Blood sugar control is one of the many processes regulated by the body’s biological clock. This study adds to our understanding of how the gene that carries the blueprint for a key component in the clock can influence people’s risk of diabetes,” explains Philippe Froquel, who led the study. This new discovery could lead to more personalized treatments for patients and more accurate diagnostic techniques.