| abstract |
The present invention is based on the discovery that hexosamine, and in particular the dynamic O-GlcNAcylation of proteins (modification of proteins by the sugar N- acetylglucosamine) both causes insulin-resistance (a hallmark of type II diabetes) and is responsible for glucose toxicity in the disease. Accordingly, the invention provides methods of diagnosing a subject as having or at risk of having pre-diabetes or diabetes. Also provided are methods of characterizing hyperglycemia in a subject, methods of identifying a protein as being associated with hyperglycemia, and kits for detecting pre¬ diabetes or diabetes. |