KCNJ11 and Hyperglycemia: For example, it could be that increased fat mass puts more stress on the beta cell leading to decreased transcription of genes important for beta cell functionality, or alternatively that lower levels of KCNJ11 mRNA in the beta cell relative to the alpha cell may result in changed insulin/glucagon ratio and hyperglycaemia, leading eventually to increased lipid production by the liver and enhanced fat deposition in the adipose tissue.