SLC2A4 and diabetes mellitus: The excessive accumulation of energy due to the ingestion of a diet high in fat and sugar causes the metabolic syndrome; this is characterized by the elevated expression of TNF-α, an adipokine produced from enlarged adipocytes; it suppresses the production of the type-4 glucose transporter (GLUT 4) and induces insulin resistance, responsible for the chronic inflammation and development of diabetes, and additionally, it reduces the lipase lipoprotein activity in the adipocytes, stimulating hepatic lipolysis [79].