406 | id == 406
406 | category_id == 25
406 | category_order == 22
406 | category_name == Blood Sugar
406 | category_color == #C47AC0
406 | slug == KCN-blood-sugar
406 | title == A Genetic Link Between Potassium Passageways and Low Blood Sugar (KCN)
406 | meta_description == KCN genes are involved in blood sugar regulation. Variants of KCN have been associated with low blood sugar. Read more here.
406 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong><em>KCN </em>genes code for proteins that comprise parts of passageways. These passageways allow potassium ions to exit pancreatic cells, ultimately leading to the release or suppression of a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Variants of these genes have been associated with low blood sugar levels. Read more to learn about this association, and to learn about recommendations you may follow to mitigate the negative effects of these variants.&nbsp;</strong></p>
406 | overall_score_text == Your Blood Sugar Score (based on KCN genes)
406 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/KCN-Blood-Sugar-Diabetes.jpg
406 | author_id == 14
406 | author_name == Shany Lahan
406 | author_title == MS (Neuroscience)
406 | author_order == 5
406 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Shany.webp
406 | author_intro == <p>Shany received her MSc in Neuroscience from Western University.</p>    <p>Prior to joining SelfDecode, Shany conducted research related to Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, and taught science to undergraduate students. She believes that research should be accessible to everyone, regardless of scientific background. Shany joined SelfDecode&nbsp;with a mission to help others optimize their health and wellbeing &ndash; as well as help them understand the science behind it all.</p>
406 | reviewer == None
406 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
406 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
406 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
406 | publish_date == 2020
406 | publish_date == 10
406 | publish_date == 13
406 | avg_rating == 4.5
406 | tags_id == 139
406 | tags_name == Insulin
406 | tags_id == 816
406 | tags_name == KCNJ11 Gene
406 | tags_id == 817
406 | tags_name == KCNQ1 Gene
406 | tags_id == 818
406 | tags_name == Kir6.2
406 | tags_id == 819
406 | tags_name == KvLQT1
406 | tags_id == 805
406 | tags_name == Pancreas
406 | tags_id == 689
406 | tags_name == Potassium
406 | permissions_favorite == False
406 | permissions_rate == False
406 | content_article == <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">KCN </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">genes code for parts of passageways that are involved in the release of the blood sugar-regulating hormone, insulin. Variants of these genes may play a role in low blood sugar by reducing the production or activity of potassium passageways, leading to excess release of insulin. Supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by increasing production of parts of these potassium passageways.</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>KCN</em> and Blood Sugar</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/insulin-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Insulin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a hormone that promotes the storage of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/glucose/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">blood sugar</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in muscle, fat, and the liver, thereby lowering levels of this sugar in the blood. Insulin is usually released from cells of the pancreas in response to elevated blood sugar levels; for example, after consumption of a meal [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1204764/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The release of substances from cells of the body often depends on a change in electrical charge across cell surfaces. In the case of insulin release from a pancreatic cell, the charge on the inner surface of the cell must be more positive than the outer surface [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2185070/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4141364/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/kcnj11/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">KCNJ11</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">and </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/kcnq1/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">KCNQ1</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">genes are involved in the formation of distinct passageways (channels) that are found on the surface of pancreatic cells. These passageways allow positively-charged potassium ions to pass from the inside of pancreatic cells to the outside, thus leaving a negative charge on the inner surface of the cells [</span><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/kcnj11/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/kcnq1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2185070/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Potassium channels containing the protein encoded by </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">KCNJ11</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Kir6.2) maintain pancreatic cells in negatively-charged and inactive states by remaining open until blood sugar levels rise. When this occurs, Kir6.2-containing channels become blocked, and positively-charged potassium ions build up within pancreatic cells. This results in a more positive charge on the inner surface of these cells than the outer surface, which can stimulate insulin release [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2119205/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2185070/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A positive inner charge can also open potassium channels containing the protein encoded by </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">KCNQ1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (KvLQT1). This allows potassium ions to slowly exit, and pancreatic cells to eventually return to their negatively-charged and inactive states [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24357532/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">KCNJ11 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">KCNQ1 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">have been associated with low blood sugar levels. These variants may decrease the production or activity of potassium channels, leading to overactivity of pancreatic cells [</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://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30718926/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24357532/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Overactivity of pancreatic cells can result in excess release of insulin and low blood sugar levels. High insulin levels experienced over a prolonged period of time can also result in decreased insulin receptor sensitivity, which may increase the risk of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/glucose/#What_Is_Diabetes"><span style="font-weight: 400;">type 2 diabetes</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6735759/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your <em>KCN</em> Results for Blood Sugar</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*9703154023770062*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">*8922565548354806*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Primary SNP</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>KCNJ11 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs5215/"><strong>rs5215</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Increased risk of low blood sugar</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Not associated with low blood sugar</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Other Important SNPs</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>KCNJ11 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs5219/"><strong>rs5219</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Increased risk of low blood sugar&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Not associated with low blood sugar</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>KCNQ1 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs2237892/"><strong>rs2237892</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Increased risk of low blood sugar</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Not associated with low blood sugar</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>KCNQ1 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs2237897/"><strong>rs2237897</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Increased risk of low blood sugar</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Not associated with low blood sugar</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">*2729240673358948*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">*2937904582636377*</p> <h2 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Recommendations for Regulating Blood Sugar Levels</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*7321585004152145*</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Zinc</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/literally-everything-wanted-know-zinc-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zinc</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a mineral that can mimic the actions of insulin, as well as prevent the release of insulin from pancreatic cells [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19442898/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8196555/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Low blood zinc levels have been associated with diabetes and prediabetes. Conversely, greater intake of this mineral may protect against type 2 diabetes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3629219/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4015935/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2660459/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several meta-analyses have found that zinc supplementation may regulate blood glucose and </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;"> in people with obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27587022/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23137858/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3407731/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zinc was shown to increase the production of KvLQT1 in cell-based experiments [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15159208/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Zinc supplements may regulate blood sugar by increasing production of KvLQT1.</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Resveratrol</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-15-scientific-health-benefits-of-resveratrol-with-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Resveratrol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is an antioxidant mainly found in grapes and red wine. It is also available as a supplement.&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A meta-analysis of 11 small studies found that resveratrol may improve blood glucose control and insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes, but not in healthy individuals. However, another meta-analysis found this evidence to be insufficient [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24695890/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31978258/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In individuals with metabolic syndrome, supplementation with at least 500 mg resveratrol for over 10 weeks was shown to regulate blood sugar levels [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31065943/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a mouse study, treatment with resveratrol increased production of Kir6.2 [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24498880/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Resveratrol may regulate blood sugar levels by increasing production of Kir6.2.</span></p>
406 | content_snp_table_9703154023770062_key == 9703154023770062
406 | content_snp_table_9703154023770062_blur == True
406 | content_snp_table_9703154023770062_hidden == False
406 | content_snp_table_8922565548354806_key == 8922565548354806
406 | content_snp_table_8922565548354806_blur == True
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406 | content_learn_more_2937904582636377_key == 2937904582636377
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406 | content_learn_more_2937904582636377_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your KCNQ1 gene makes you somewhat more likely to have low blood sugar. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of low blood sugar; it’s just one gene related to it. Zinc supplements may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
406 | content_learn_more_2729240673358948_key == 2729240673358948
406 | content_learn_more_2729240673358948_blur == True
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406 | content_learn_more_2729240673358948_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your KCNJ11 gene makes you somewhat more likely to have low blood sugar. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of low blood sugar; it’s just one gene related to it. Resveratrol supplements may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
406 | content_recommendation_7321585004152145_key == 7321585004152145
406 | content_recommendation_7321585004152145_blur == True
406 | content_recommendation_7321585004152145_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs2237892,rs2237897,rs5215,rs5219
rsStatus = rs2237892,KCNQ1,chr11,2818521,C,T,,,16,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs2237897,KCNQ1,chr11,2837316,C,T,,,35,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs5215,KCNJ11,chr11,17387083,C,T,,,19,13,HET
rsStatus = rs5219,KCNJ11,chr11,17388025,T,A,C,G,36,0,Normal
