Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of interrelated cardio-metabolic risk factors that include Central Obesity, Hyperglycemia, Hypertension and Dyslipidemia. It has been estimated that about 1 in 5 (20.4%) adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure, it is very crucial to evaluate the serious health problems, level of awareness and knowledge about conditions relevant to metabolic disorders. Metabolic syndrome is caused not by genetic defects alone; in most cases, genetic factors predispose a person to a disease, while lifestyle factors determine whether (and when) the disease will develop. Several studies have demonstrated clearly the importance of dietary factors and physical activity level in the development of the metabolic syndrome. Given the same dietary and lifestyle factors, some individuals may be more prone to type 2 diabetes than others because of different genetic backgrounds. At a public health level, more attention must be given to modification of lifestyles of the general public to reduce risk of obesity and T2DM and to increase physical activity. At a clinical level, individual patients with increased metabolic risk need to be identified so that their multiple risk factors can be reduced. Considering the long asymptomatic period often preceding the manifestation of T2DM and CVD, early diagnosis could enable earlier targeted interventions such as implementation of healthy lifestyle changes in nutritional behavior and exercise or pharmacotherapy, thus reducing disease development. A deeper understanding of the underlying gene- interactions  In terms of both public health  and for individuals and genetic subgroups is therefor needed.