Our recent studies in endothelial cells indicate that the apparent inhibitor constant Ki value of extracellular glucose concentration for inhibition of proteolysis of HK2 is approximately 7 mM (which may vary with differing rates of cellular uptake of glucose and levels of expression of HSC70), and the half-life of HK2 protein is approximately 10 h, indicating that prolonged exposure of HK2 to increased cytosolic glucose concentration in IFG and diabetes is the condition required to stimulate HK2-linked glycolytic overload and unscheduled glycolysis. The gene discussed is HK2; the disease is diabetes mellitus.