These Blood Groups Run a Higher Risk of Diabetes

The latest estimates from the International Diabetes Federation show that there are about 382 million people living with diabetes worldwide. A person's genetic disposition and unhealthy lifetsyle habits are some of the common factors that increase the risk of diabetes. Adding to this, a new study has found that women with blood groups A, B and AB are at higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.The study was published in the journal Diabetologia. According to Guy Fagherazzi from Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health in France, "Our findings support a strong relationship between blood group and diabetes risk. It was seen that participants with 'O' blood type had a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes." For the study, researchers collected data from more than 80,000 women in France who were followed between 1990 and 2008. The results showed that when compared to women with 'O' blood type, those with 'A' blood group were 10 percent more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes and those with blood group 'B' had a  21 percent higher risk. Besides this, the AB group was 17 percent more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. (6 Natural Remedies for Diabetes) Moreover, the highest risk of developing Type 2 diabetes was found in B+ blood type (35 percent increased risk), followed by AB+ (26 percent), A- (22 percent), A+ (17 percent).  "The present study shows for the first time in a large prospective cohort that specific ABO blood groups are associated with an increased Type 2 diabetes risk," Fagherazzi said. The authors say that the reasons behind this association are currently unknown, but they could be related to a number of factors. It has been suggested that the human ABO locus might influence endothelial or inflammation markers. ABO grouping is also associated with various molecules known to be connected to Type 2 diabetes. (How to Manage Diabetes) It is a known fact that all blood groups are not alike. For example, Type A blood contains the A antigen that generates a specific immune response when foreign substances attack the body. An additional variable, called Rhesus (Rh) factor, also distinguishes blood types. A person's blood type is known to impart certain characterictics, but its association with the risk of diabetes has been explored for the first time. With inputs from IANS