Abstract: The present invention provides biomarkers, methods and kits for diagnosing and prognosing the development of impaired glucose tolerance in a subject and the progression of diabetes in a subject, as well as methods for identifying a compound that can inhibit the development of impaired glucose tolerance and/or type 2 diabetes; reduce or slow down the progression of normal glucose tolerance to impaired fasting glycaemia, to impaired glucose tolerance, and/or to diabetes; and/or reduce or inhibit the development of complications associated with the disease in a subject, and methods for inhibiting the development of impaired glucose tolerance and/or type 2 diabetes; reducing or slowing down the progression of normal glucose tolerance to impaired fasting glycaemia, to impaired glucose tolerance, and/or to diabetes; and/or reducing or inhibiting the development of complications associated with the disease in a subject.