New Delhi: Scientists have finally cracked the reason as to why Indians and South Asians are more prone to diabetes. Six new genes have been identified that trigger diabetes and make Indians and South Asians four times more likely than Europeans to develop type 2 diabetes.

Dr V Mohan, the author of a study on diabetes, said, "For the first time people of South Asian ancestry have been studied. Interestingly enough we came up with six new genes which weren't discovered so far. Earlier about 42 genes had been identified to be associated with diabetes but those studies were all in caucasians."

Dr Mohan led the study, which has been published in the scientific journal 'Nature' and the hope is that identifying these genes can lead to better diagnosis and treatment options in the future.

In the study, the researchers compared the DNA of more than 18,000 South Asians with Type 2 diabetes with nearly 40,000 healthy people globally.

They were able to identify six positions, rather six differences in genetic code that increased the risk of type 2 diabetes. These six previously unidentified genes were only found in South Asians.

66 million South Asians have type 2 diabetes and the number is 51 million in India. The study apart, doctors stress what triggers the disease is lack of exercise, bad eating habits and high stress levels. Prevention begins right from pregnancy.

Dr Ambrish Mithal, an endocrinologist, said, "Studies from India have clearly shown if the mother is undernourished then the risk for diabetes in the off spring is great. And if the mother is optimally nourished you can reduce that risk to a large extent."