Genetics of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

It is probable that NIDDM has a multifactorial origin in which environmental factors hasten the progression of the disease in genetically predisposed individuals. The importance of the genetic contribution to NIDDM has been established by the study of certain inbred populations, the almost 100% concordance of disease in monozygotic twins and by familial clustering. However, progress in identifying specific genetic factors involved in NIDDM has been slow and no consistent evidence has emerged supporting a major aetiological role for any of the genes so far studied. This may be due in part to methodological problems encountered in the identification of such disease susceptibility genes.