Because insulin resistance and consequent hyperinsulinemia can promote carcinogenesis directly through the insulin receptor or indirectly by increasing the levels of insulin-like growth factors or promoting persistently elevated plasma glucose, the association between metformin consumption and the reduced risk of cancer among type 2 diabetic patients may be explained simply by the metformin-driven improvement of insulin levels and blood glucose [19-22]. The gene discussed is INS; the disease is hyperinsulinism.