Type 2 diabetes risk

TCF7L2 affects insulin secretion and is the strongest common genetic signal for type 2 diabetes. It shifts risk, but lifestyle and weight remain the biggest levers.

Possible results

Average diabetes risk. You don't carry the TCF7L2 variant most strongly tied to type 2 diabetes, so from what this gene shows your risk sits at the baseline. Weight, diet, activity and family history still shape your overall risk much more.

Slightly higher diabetes risk. You carry one copy of the TCF7L2 variant, the strongest common genetic signal for type 2 diabetes. It affects how well your body releases insulin and modestly raises your risk. The good news is that diet, activity and weight remain the biggest levers, so the tendency is very manageable.

Higher diabetes risk. You have two copies of the TCF7L2 variant linked to type 2 diabetes, which more noticeably affects insulin release and raises your statistical risk. This is a tendency, not a diagnosis: staying active, eating well and keeping a healthy weight go a long way, and regular blood-sugar checks are worth discussing with a doctor.

Evidence & sources

Across global populations, about 8% of people carry two copies of this variant, and about 53% carry none.

This variant appears in 54 published genetic studies: PubMed 17293876 · PubMed 17460697 · PubMed 17463246 · PubMed 17463248 · PubMed 17668382 · PubMed 18372903 · PubMed 19056611 · PubMed 19401414 · PubMed 19734900 · PubMed 20581827 · PubMed 20694148 · PubMed 20849430 · PubMed 22101970 · PubMed 22581228 · PubMed 22693455 · PubMed 22885922 · PubMed 23209189 · PubMed 23300278 · PubMed 23945395 · PubMed 24390345 · PubMed 24509480 · PubMed 25102180 · PubMed 26961502 · PubMed 27897004 · PubMed 28254843 · PubMed 28869590 · PubMed 30054458 · PubMed 30297969 · PubMed 30470734 · PubMed 30595370 · PubMed 31049640 · PubMed 31118516 · PubMed 31217584 · PubMed 32541925 · PubMed 33479058 · PubMed 33619380 · PubMed 34059833 · PubMed 34737425 · PubMed 34951656 · PubMed 35393509 · PubMed 35551307 · PubMed 35587468 · PubMed 35810165 · PubMed 37308106 · PubMed 37679419 · PubMed 38374256 · PubMed 38448586 · PubMed 38627641 · PubMed 39024449 · PubMed 39379762 · PubMed 39789286 · PubMed 40754711 · PubMed 41044249 · PubMed 41298473.

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