What does the deCODE T2™ test look for?
The deCODE T2™ test is designed to look for four different genetic variants: TCF7L2, CDKAL1, PPARG, CDKN2A. These one-letter variations have been shown to be linked with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in large studies across the world. In 2006, scientists at deCODE Genetics discovered that people who have two copies of the variation in the TCF7L2 gene have around twice the risk of having type 2 diabetes compared to those who have one or no copies of variant. The TCF7L2 remains the single strongest genetic predictor of type 2 diabetes risk. The other three tested variants also adjust the diabetes risk, but to a smaller degree. The deCODE T2™ TCF7L2 marker also identifies people who may be helped more from metformin drugs (such as Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Riomet) in controlling type 2 diabetes than sulfonylurea drugs (such as Amaryl, DiaBeta, Diabinese, Dymelor, Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL, Glynase PresTab, Micronase, Orinase, Tolinase). Sulfonylurea drugs have been less effective in
