404 | id == 404
404 | category_id == 25
404 | category_order == 22
404 | category_name == Blood Sugar
404 | category_color == #C47AC0
404 | slug == TCF7L2-blood-sugar
404 | title == Principal Gene in Blood Sugar Control (TCF7L2)
404 | meta_description == The TCF7L2 gene is strongly associated with diabetes and blood sugar levels. Click to check your variants and get tailored tips.
404 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>TCF7L2 is the single most important gene for blood sugar control. Read this post to check your variants and get gene-based tips to balance blood sugar.</strong></p>
404 | overall_score_text == Your Blood Sugar Score (Based on TCF7L2 Gene)
404 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/TCF7L2-Blood-Sugar-Diabetes.jpg
404 | author_id == 9
404 | author_name == Aleksa Ristic
404 | author_title == MS (Pharmacy)
404 | author_order == 45
404 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Aleksa.jpg
404 | author_intro == <p><strong>Aleksa received his MS in Pharmacy from the University of Belgrade, his master thesis focusing on protein sources in plant-based diets.</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>    <p>Aleksa is passionate about herbal pharmacy, nutrition, and functional medicine. He found a way to merge his two biggest passions&mdash;writing and health&mdash;and use them for noble purposes. His mission is to bridge the gap between science and everyday life, helping readers improve their health and feel better.</p>
404 | reviewer == None
404 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
404 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
404 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
404 | publish_date == 2020
404 | publish_date == 10
404 | publish_date == 13
404 | avg_rating == 5.0
404 | tags_id == 801
404 | tags_name == Blood Sugar
404 | tags_id == 285
404 | tags_name == Carbohydrates
404 | tags_id == 127
404 | tags_name == Diabetes Type 2
404 | tags_id == 281
404 | tags_name == GLP-1
404 | tags_id == 283
404 | tags_name == Glycemic index
404 | tags_id == 139
404 | tags_name == Insulin
404 | tags_id == 280
404 | tags_name == TCF7L2 gene
404 | permissions_favorite == False
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404 | content_article == <h2><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><strong>The TCF7L2 gene plays a crucial role in insulin secretion.<br /><br /></strong><strong>Variants in this gene have the strongest known association with elevated blood sugar levels due to type 2 diabetes. <br /><br /></strong><strong>Specific dietary and lifestyle changes may reduce or even cancel out the adverse effects of the TCF7L2 gene on blood sugar control.</strong></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>TCF7L2 and Glucose Metabolism</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/tcf7l2/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TCF7L2</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene controls different metabolic genes, with a particular role in </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/glucose/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">glucose metabolism</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and insulin secretion [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/TCF7L2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16772326/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This gene has the strongest known association with type 2 diabetes, meaning it can drastically affect blood sugar levels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16415884/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17563454/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">TCF7L2 variants can impair insulin secretion but not </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-tips-for-fixing-insulin-resistance/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">insulin sensitivity</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This gene controls the activity of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/glp-1-a-hormone-that-causes-weight-loss-and-good-cognitive-effects/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">GLP-1</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, an intestinal peptide that stimulates insulin secretion in response to food [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2063563/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17671651/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2809956/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The TCF7L2 gene, which controls GLP-mediated insulin secretion, has the strongest known association with blood sugar levels.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>Your TCF7L2 Results for Blood Sugar Levels</strong></h2> <p>*7710664002437562*</p> <p><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs7903146/"><strong>rs7903146</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30054458/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/29358691"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/22885922"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17437080/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2667467/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3433658/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; - strongly associated with high blood sugar due to type 2 diabetes</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; - not associated with high blood sugar due to type 2 diabetes</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele prevents GLP-1 from stimulating insulin secretion and reducing blood sugar after meals.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The effect of this variant is amplified in people who consume foods with a high glycemic index, such as grains and other high-carb foods</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>Other Important SNP:</strong></p> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs7901695/"><strong>rs7901695</strong></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30054458/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/29358691"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/22885922"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; - strongly associated with high blood sugar due to diabetes</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; - not associated with high blood sugar due to diabetes</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These two variants are almost always inherited together, which means they act as a single genetic factor.</span></p> <p>*5705826159404046*</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>Recommendations to Balance Blood Sugar</strong></h2> <p>*5846329225204334*</p> <h3><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4><strong>Exercise &amp; Weight Reduction</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In different clinical studies, weight reduction and moderate </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">physical activity</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, along with dietary changes, reduced or even canceled out the adverse effects of TCF7L2 variants [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1370926/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17437080/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Being overweight or obese is the number one risk factor for high blood sugar levels, </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/top-tips-for-fixing-insulin-resistance/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">insulin resistance</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and type 2 diabetes. Even a slight weight reduction can be beneficial [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3896971/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2857968/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5829255/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>T</em><em>he American Diabetes Association</em></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> recommends the combination of moderate aerobic and resistance training, at least 150 min/week. It&rsquo;s also crucial to reduce the sedentary lifestyle and interrupt longer periods of sitting every 30 mins [</span><a href="https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/39/11/2065"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight to prevent the TCF7L2 gene from raising your blood sugar levels.</span></p> <h3><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4><strong>Avoid Foods With a High Glycemic Index</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Foods high in sugar and quickly digestible carbs have a high glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL). They drastically increase blood glucose and insulin demand, thus magnifying the impact of TCF7L2 [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2667467/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Everyone looking to improve blood sugar control, especially those with TCF7L2 risk variants, should avoid or minimize the intake of [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2584181/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.diabetes.org/nutrition"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sweets</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Juices and sodas with added sugar</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">White rice</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instant breakfast cereals</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">White flour bread and pastry</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">White four and instant pasta</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People in the high-risk group may want to limit the intake of all grains, potatoes, and other starchy foods [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17437080/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2667467/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3433658/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Avoid foods with a high glycemic index to reduce the impact of your TCF7L2 gene on blood sugar.</span></p> <h4><strong>Suitable Foods</strong></h4> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/olive-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Olive oil</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, nuts, avocado, and eggs are great low-carb replacements. They may counteract your gene variants by stimulating GLP-1 secretion [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5148911/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Folks praise </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-15-proven-scientific-reasons-spice-life-cinnamon-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cinnamon</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/9-proven-health-benefits-momordica-charantia-bitter-melon-including-risks/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">bitter melon</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> as age-old remedies that may reduce blood sugar, and clinical research has confirmed their effectiveness. They also boost GLP-1, making them a perfect choice for people with TCF7L2 variants [</span><a href="http://ajl.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/10/09/1559827612462960.full.pdf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2901047/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/625892/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29339109"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/blog/article/tcf7l2-diabetes-carbs-106/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Read this post</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to learn more about the link between the TCF7L2 gene, food choices, and blood sugar control.</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Consume more olive oil, nuts, avocados, and eggs. Add cinnamon and bitter melon to your diet to counteract your TCF7L2 gene and balance blood sugar.</span></p>
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404 | content_learn_more_5705826159404046_text == Your TCF7L2 variants are associated with slightly higher blood sugar levels and diabetes rates. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of elevated blood sugar; it’s just one gene related to it. Exercise regularly, limit the intake of foods with a high glycemic index, and follow other gene-based tips to improve blood sugar control. Keep reading to learn more.
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rsIDs = rs7903146,rs7901695
rsStatus = rs7903146,TCF7L2,chr10,112998590,C,G,T,,29,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs7901695,TCF7L2,chr10,112994329,T,C,,,6,22,HET
