What leads to diabetes? Is family history very important?
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What leads to diabetes?
(8 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have different causes. Yet two factors are important in both. First, you must inherit a predisposition to the disease. Second, something in your environment must trigger diabetes.
As you can see, family history is very important.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Considering family history risk, there are some diferences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
In most cases of type 1 diabetes, people need to inherit risk factors from both parents. Type 2 diabetes has a stronger genetic basis than type 1 as it is possibly inherited only from one parent. The disease also depends more on environmental factors. May be this sounds confusing, but what happens is that a family history of type 2 diabetes is one of the strongest risk factors for getting the disease but it only seems to matter in people living a Western lifestyle, as obesity is an important risk factor.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thank you very muh for your answers.
If I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, what are the odds for my child to have it?Posted 2 years ago # -
Retireddoc says that environmental factors are important for getting type 2 diabetes.
Americans and Europeans eat too much fat and too little carbohydrate and fiber, and they get too little exercise. Type 2 diabetes is common in people with these habits. The ethnic groups in the United States with the highest risk are African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Pima Indians.
In contrast, people who live in areas that have not become Westernized tend not to get type 2 diabetes, no matter how high their genetic risk.
Obesity is a strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Obesity is most risky for young people and for people who have been obese for a long time.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Type 2 diabetes runs in families. In part, this tendency is due to children learning bad habits eating a poor diet, not exercising--from their parents.
I've found some statistics related to genetic basis. In general, if you have type 2 diabetes, the risk of your child getting diabetes is 1 in 7 if you were diagnosed before age 50 and 1 in 13 if you were diagnosed after age 50.
Some scientists believe that a child's risk is greater when the parent with type 2 diabetes is the mother. If both you and your partner have type 2 diabetes, your child's risk is about 1 in 2.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Bradley,
Having a family history in diabetes doesn't mean you will get this disease for sure, just you were born more likely to get it. Just take care to the following:
- Lose weight if you are overweight
- Eat a balanced diet including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and lean meats
- Get active
- Drink alcohol sensibly
- Lipid screening and management
- Talk to your healthcare provider
- Talk to your healthcare provider about your family health history of diabetes
- Make a plan to preserve your health
- Earlier screening
- Engage in healthy behavior (see above)Posted 2 years ago # -
Thank you very much for your contribution.
Posted 2 years ago #
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