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Page 130 Chan et al. J Transl Genet Genom 2024;8:13-34 https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/jtgg.2023.36

CONCLUSION
Diabetes is a societal, public health and personal challenge. The rapid changes in our ecosystem, physical
and food environment, cultures, lifestyles, values, and perspectives have unmasked biological defects in
vulnerable individuals at risk of developing diabetes at a young age. These individuals need to be diagnosed,
treated, and controlled early to prevent complications, maintain earning power, and preserve quality of life.
Decision makers including governments, payors, and healthcare planners are tasked with creating a health-
enabling environment, building capacity, and ensuring access to affordable medications, care, and support
in collaboration with industry. Likewise, care providers have the responsibility to identify unmet needs and
discover new knowledge to improve outcomes. Against this backdrop, physicians standing between patients
and technologies, equipped with knowledge in human biology, pathophysiology, clinical medicine, drug
mechanisms, and care delivery, should spearhead the use of genomic medicine and holistic care to reclassify
diabetes and implement personalized solutions in people with or at risk of developing YOD. By combining
research and practice, there is a real possibility that we can use personalized and genomic data to transform
[3]
care and save patient lives .

DECLARATIONS
Acknowledgments
We thank all staff, patients, and their relatives and the support of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and
the Hong Kong Genome Institute in the implementation of the PRISM Project, supported by the Hong
Kong Government Health and Medical Research Fund Commissioned Research (CFS-CUHK2). We also
acknowledge the support of the Impact Research Fund supported by the Research Grant Committee.

Authors’ contributions
Conceptualized and wrote the first draft with contribution and finalized the paper for submission: Chan JCN
Provided critical comments and approved the final manuscript: all authors

Availability of data and materials
Not applicable.

Financial support and sponsorship
None.

Conflicts of interest
Chan JCN and Ma R hold patents for using genetic markers to predict diabetes and its complications
for personalized care. Chan JCN, Ma R, and Lim C are cofounders of a start-up biotech company
partially supported by the Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities (TSSSU) of the
Hong Kong Government Innovation and Technology Commission. All other coauthors have no conflict of
interest to declare.

Ethical approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.

Consent for publication
Not applicable.

Copyright
© The Author(s) 2024.