SLC11A2 and thalassemia: The epidemiological studies of the association between iron overload and glucose metabolism showed the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis and iron-loading thalassemia, conversely explained by studies of glucose metabolism in the Belgrade rat model [33], which carries the point mutation G185R in the gene for DMT1, responsible for impaired iron uptake and consequent anemia, although associated with iron accumulation both in serum and liver.