Elevated number of lysosomes and autophagosomes as signs of autophagy were associated with an elevation of the levels of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xl, autophagy markers LC3 and Beclin-1, and a decrease in pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3 compared with the T2DM animals. The gene discussed is BECN1; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.