A major international genetics study has shed new light on the rapid rise of type 2 diabetes across Africa, revealing why the disease is increasing so sharply and how future treatments could be better adapted to African populations. Published in Nature Genetics, the research analysed blood samples from adults in Uganda to examine how genes influence proteins associated with type 2 diabetes. The scientists linked genetic data with protein levels in the blood, offering a detailed picture of disease biology that has been largely missing from global research.
The findings exposed previously unknown biological pathways involved in diabetes and highlighted a major public health concern: African populations have been underrepresented in genetic studies, a gap that may limit the accuracy of diagnosis, risk prediction and treatment for millions of people.
According to international estimates cited by the researchers, the number of people living with diabetes in Africa is projected to rise by more than 140 per cent by 2045, driven by urbanisation, dietary changes, reduced physical activity and limited access to healthcare.
To address the research imbalance, the team measured nearly 3,000 proteins in the blood of 525 Ugandan adults, including people with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes and normal blood sugar levels, and mapped how genes influence these proteins.
The study identified significant differences in the levels of 88 proteins between people with diabetes or prediabetes and healthy individuals, as well as 399 genetic variants affecting protein levels, many of which had not been previously reported.
Researchers found strong genetic evidence that 18 specific proteins play a causal role in the development of type 2 diabetes, with some increasing disease risk and others offering protective effects. One protein linked to immune regulation suggested that inflammation may play a more prominent role in diabetes among Africans than previously recognised.
The team also warned that widely used diagnostic tools, such as the HbA1c blood test, may underestimate diabetes risk in some African populations, leaving individuals undiagnosed until complications emerge.
“Understanding diabetes biology in African populations isn’t just about Africa; it enhances our overall understanding of the disease,” the researchers concluded, stressing that inclusive genetic research is essential for effective and equitable global healthcare.
