INS and type 1 diabetes mellitus: After detecting a significant increase in β-cell-derived demethylated DNA in the Ins (insulin gene) yet before the onset of hyperglycemia in (prediabetic) NOD mice, Akirav et al. subsequently were able to confirm the increased demethylation of CpG sites within the insulin gene in primary human β-cells and also found increased levels of demethylated insulin DNA in circulating β-cell-derived DNA in patients with new-onset type 1 diabetes.