Diabetes, a metabolic disease, is on the rise worldwide, and over 90% of cases are type 2 diabetes, where the body does not effectively respond to insulin.

Researchers from Mass General Brigham and Albert Einstein College of Medicine have identified metabolites (small molecules found in blood generated through metabolism) associated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future, and have revealed genetic and lifestyle factors that may influence these metabolites. They also developed a metabolomic signature that predicts future risk of type 2 diabetes beyond traditional risk factors.

Their results are published in Nature Medicine.