blood sugar control

HMGA2

An Embryonic Development Gene and Blood Sugar (HMGA2)

Written by Jasmine Foster, BSc, BEd on October 16th, 2020

HMGA2 affects the way that fatty tissues develop in an early embryo. What is its relationship with insulin and diabetes? Read on to find out.

Summary

HMGA2 encodes high-mobility group AT-hook 2. Variants of HMGA2 may play a role in diabetes by permanently altering sugar metabolism during the development of the embryo. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by supporting sugar metabolism and preventing insulin resistance.

HMGA2 and Blood Sugar

HMGA2 encodes high-mobility group AT-hook 2, a protein that changes the shape of DNA, regulating the way early embryos develop. More specifically, it regulates the genes required to develop what will become fatty tissues. Later in life, the HMGA2 protein may change the expression of other genes [R, R].

Variation in HMGA2 has been associated mainly with dysfunction of the fatty tissues. People with HMGA2 variants may be more susceptible to tumors developing in fatty tissue, while animals without this gene are more susceptible to obesity [R].

Oddly, some HMGA2 variants have been linked to both insulin production and height. The detrimental variants lead to shorter height and insulin resistance, and the relationship holds across humans and animals such as ponies. Researchers believe that certain variants of the HMGA2 gene change the early development of insulin-producing tissues, leading to lifelong susceptibility to insulin resistance, high blood sugar, and diabetes [R, R, R].

HMGA2 encodes a protein that regulates gene expression during early embryonic development. Variants in this gene may lead to tumours in fatty tissue and disruption of sugar metabolism.

Your HMGA2 Results for Blood Sugar

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs2261181
rs1531343
rs343092
rs7968902
rs1480474

HMGA2 rs2261181

‘C’ = Not associated with abnormal blood sugar levels
‘T’ = Associated with relatively higher blood sugar
The ‘T’ allele may alter the function or expression of HMGA2 during early embryonic development [R].

HMGA2 rs1531343

‘G’ = Not associated with abnormal blood sugar levels
‘C’ = Associated with relatively higher blood sugar
The ‘C’ allele may alter the function or expression of HMGA2 during early embryonic development [R].

HMGA2 rs343092

‘G’ = Not associated with abnormal blood sugar levels
‘T’ = Associated with relatively higher blood sugar
The ‘T’ allele may alter the function or expression of HMGA2 during early embryonic development [R].

HMGA2 rs7968902

‘G’ = Associated with relatively higher blood sugar
‘T’ = Not associated with abnormal blood sugar levels
The ‘T’ allele may alter the function or expression of HMGA2 during early embryonic development [R].

HMGA2 rs1480474

‘G’ = Associated with relatively higher blood sugar
‘A’ = Not associated with abnormal blood sugar levels
The ‘A’ allele may alter the function or expression of HMGA2 during early embryonic development [R].

Recommendations

Maintain Healthy Weight

Being overweight or obese is the number one risk factor for high blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Even a slight weight reduction can be beneficial [R, R, R].

The single most important thing that can help you lose weight is to consume fewer calories. Multiple studies show the effectiveness of calorie restriction in lowering blood glucose and insulin resistance [R, R, R, R].

HMGA2 is involved in the development of fatty tissues, and losing weight may be challenging for those with detrimental mutations. For personalized recommendations to help you lose weight, check out our Body Weight DNA Wellness Report [R].

HMGA2 variants can make it more difficult to lose weight, but maintaining a healthy weight is especially important for preventing insulin resistance.

Cutting Down on Refined Carbohydrates

Harmful variants in the HMGA2 may make it more difficult for the body to process sugar and other simple carbohydrates [R].

The digestion of dietary carbohydrates causes a spike in blood glucose, which the body counteracts by producing insulin to stimulate its uptake into the cells. A failure to react to insulin, called insulin resistance, causes sugar to build up in the blood. Over time, this damages the pancreas and leads to type 2 diabetes [R].

The foods most likely to cause insulin resistance are those that greatly increase blood sugar levels (in other words, those with a high glycemic index). They include sugar-sweetened drinks, baked goods, candy, white bread, rice, and pasta, and their overconsumption is associated with type 2 diabetes [R, R, R, R].

Similarly, adopting diets low in refined carbohydrates has been shown to reduce glycated hemoglobin in people with type 2 diabetes [R, R].

People with detrimental HMGA2 variants may have more difficulty controlling blood sugar after eating refined carbohydrates, so these should be avoided wherever possible.

Resistant Starch

Resistant starch is a complex carbohydrate that is digested by beneficial bacteria in the gut. This slow process transforms the starch into butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that does not raise blood sugar. This makes resistant starch a good carbohydrate choice for people whose bodies have difficulty controlling insulin production [R, R, R].

Multiple clinical trials show that supplementation with resistant starch can reduce fasting and post-meal glucose levels while improving insulin resistance, especially in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity [R, R, R, R, R].

Supplementing the diet with resistant starch may prevent complications resulting from excess blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes. Resistant starch improved blood glucose levels, reduced toxins released by bacteria, increased antioxidants, and protected the blood vessels in people with this condition [R, R].

Preliminary research in animals suggests that resistant starch may help with blood glucose by slowing down the uptake and digestion of carbohydrates, stimulating carbohydrate storage in the liver and muscles, and improving insulin sensitivity [R, R, R].

Resistant starch is a complex carbohydrate that may help reduce blood sugar as it is digested by beneficial gut bacteria.

Jasmine Foster

BSc, BEd

Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.

Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

More blood sugar control blogs

Are You At Risk for Insulin Resistance and Diabetic Complications? (FOXO1) A Surprising Player in Obesity and Diabetes (PEMT) The Role Of Amino Acids In Diet, Obesity, & Diabetes (PPM1K) The Link Between Diabetes and High-Carb Foods (TCF7L2) How An Insulin Gene Influences Diet and Blood Sugar (GIPR) How A Zinc Gene Affects Blood Sugar (SLC30A8) Does This Gene Influence Your Risk of Obesity and Diabetes? (UCP3) Genetics of Inflammation, Obesity & Insulin Resistance (TNF) Does This Gene Influence Your Risk of Obesity and Diabetes? (UCP2) Can This Gene Influence Your Sugar Eating Habits? (SLC2A2)

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