The research led by Professor John Nolan of Trinity College Dublin and St James's Hospital, Dublin, has just been published online in the leading international journal, Diabetes Care, which is suggested to benefit young adults (aged 18-25 years) suffering from Type 2 diabetes.

In addition, the research work is expected to pose its long term contribution to the development of more specific treatments for young people with Type 2 diabetes.

The study findings outlines innovative mechanisms in muscle cells that demonstrates severe insulin resistance which is the body's decreased ability to respond to the effects of insulin, and a reduced stimulus to aerobic exercise in adult obese patients with Type 2 diabetes.

These findings will contribute in the long-term to the development of more specific treatments for young people with Type 2 diabetes.

The highest rates are reported in countries hit by modern lifestyles.

The recent figures report that Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 85%-90% of all cases of diabetes in European countries. Also, 129,052 people in the Republic of Ireland are afflicted from adult Type 2 diabetes or 4.3% of the adult population.

The researchers are part of an ongoing research programme by Professor Nolan's team into the causes and treatment of Type 2 diabetes and severe insulin resistance in young people. The findings were initiated in conglomeration with Professor Antonio Zorzano at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona.