Insulin resistance and impairment in islet function that develops on a high-fat diet were prevented in leukocyte-12-LOX (12/15-LOX) knockout mice, suggesting that 12/15-LOX activity is relevant to type 2 diabetes, and to beta-cell dysfunction in obese states (Laybutt et al., 2002). This evidence concerns the gene ALOX15 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.