Renin-angiotensin system in diabetes mellitus

A method to diagnose the susceptibility to hypoglycaemia of an individual comprising the steps of

• a) obtaining a tissue sample from the individual;
• and
• b) detecting within said tissue sample the genotype of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene;
• and
• c) correlating the genotype with the susceptibility to hypoglycaemia,
• or the steps of
• d) obtaining a tissue sample from the individual;
• and
• e) detecting within said tissue sample the activity of ACE;
• and
• f) correlating said activity to the susceptibility of hypoglycaemia.

A method of treatment of diabetes mellitus in an individual in need thereof comprising the steps of

• a) diagnosing the susceptibility of said individual to hypoglycaemia by
• i) obtaining a tissue sample from the individual;
• and
• ii) detecting within said tissue sample the genotype of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene;
• and
• iii) correlating the genotype with the susceptibility to hypoglycaemia,
• or the steps of
• iv) obtaining a tissue sample from the individual;
• and
• v) detecting within said tissue sample the activity of ACE;
• and
• vi) correlating said activity to the susceptibility of hypoglycaemia;
• and
• b) determining an appropriate dose of an antidiabetic and/or an inhibitor of the renin-angiotensin II system to treat said individual according to said diagnosis;
• and
• c) administering to said individual said appropriate dose of an antidiabetic.