The potential mechanisms whereby high GL diets, over a period of years, could increase the risk of T2DM include an increase in insulin demand following hyperglycemia that, in turn, leads to a loss of pancreatic function (due to β-cell exhaustion or toxicity of hyperglycemia) and an increased insulin resistance induced by free fatty acids, produced in the late postprandial period by counterregulatory hormones. The gene discussed is INS; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.