Researchers at PNNL have applied advanced proteomics methods to identify potential new biomarkers of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus, both of which are characterized by high blood glucose and are associated with obesity. The new biomarkers may result in a more accurate test for both disorders.

The current gold standard for diagnosing pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes is the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which is used to determine patients' blood glucose levels before and after glucose intake. However, the OGTT is inconvenient, requires fasting, and is not highly reproducible. With more development, scientists believe that the biomarkers identified in this work may hold the key to earlier detection of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.