Understanding Diabetes Genetics
If you or someone close has diabetes, you might have questions about why it developed and if your children are at risk. Let’s break down the genetics behind diabetes.
Understanding Diabetes Genetics – What Causes Diabetes?
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are influenced by genetics and environmental triggers. Even identical twins, who share the same genes, don’t always share diabetes. For instance, if one twin has type 1, the other has a 50% chance of having it. If one has type 2, the risk for the other is 75%.
Understanding Diabetes Genetics -Type 1 Diabetes:
– People usually inherit risk factors from both parents.
– Other triggers might include cold weather, certain viruses, or early diet.
– Some have autoantibodies in their blood long before diagnosis.
Understanding Diabetes Genetics-
Children’s Risk with Type 1:
– Male with diabetes: Child’s risk is 1 in 17.
– Female with diabetes (child born before age 25): 1 in 25.
– Female (child born after age 25): 1 in 100.
– Risk doubles if the parent was diagnosed before age 11.
– Both parents have it? Risk is between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4.
– Special case: People with type 2 polyglandular autoimmune syndrome have a 1 in 2 chance of their child developing it.
Certain genes like HLA-DR3, HLA-DR4, HLA-DR7, and HLA-DR9 can also increase risks for certain racial groups.
Type 2 Diabetes:
– Strongly linked to genetics, but lifestyle plays a role too.
– Obesity, diet, and exercise habits can influence its development.
– Even if you’re genetically predisposed, you can delay or prevent it with healthy habits.
Children’s Risk with Type 2:
– It’s linked to family history due to genetics and shared lifestyle habits.
– Good news: You can delay or prevent it in children with healthy choices.
More on Genetics:
For a detailed dive, the National Institutes of Health offers a free online book, “The Genetic Landscape of Diabetes“. It’s for anyone who wants to understand more about diabetes genetics.
