Diabetes Information, Diabetes
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By Teri Champigny

So you’re wondering how often genetics plays into diabetes. The following information may help you in understanding the relationship between them. First you’ll need to know the different type of diabetes, and then you’ll need who’s prevalent to getting diabetes passed on to them, and by whom. Not everyone with a predisposition to diabetes will get diabetes. There’s also a thing know as an environmental trigger. If you continue reading, you’ll learn the two major types of diabetes and who’s more predisposed to each. 

Type 1 diabetes usually shows itself in children or young adults. It’s also commonly referred to as juvenile diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin for the cells. Insulin is a vital fuel required by all body cells. Without it, the cells become starved for energy and die off.  Type one diabetics need to inherit something from both parents. This is apparently more common in Caucasians as they have the highest rate of type 1 diabetes.  There are numerous environmental risks that may trigger type 1 diabetes. They are not limited to, but may include; cold weather, viruses, and breastfeeding. While these aren’t the only triggers, they seem to be more documented than most.  Next we will talk about type 2 diabetes and the risk factors that may cause it. 

Type 2 diabetes has a higher genetic basis, yet requires more environmental factors. While it may seem confusing, it’s actually pretty easy to spell out. If you’re genetically predisposed to type 2 diabetes, and you are living a western lifestyle, you’re more apt to get it than someone who is living a non-western lifestyle. It makes sense if you think about it. Western civilizations tend to eat more fat and less carbs and fiber. Lack of exercise is also a huge environmental factor. Those most at risk in the United States are African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Pima Indians. In contrast, those living in an area that hasn’t been westernized tend not to get type 2 diabetes, not matter how high the genetic risk. Finally, we’ll talk about the odds between the two types, and the genders.

Typically, males with type 1 diabetes have about a 1 in 7 chance of passing it to their offspring, while women with type 1 diabetes have different factors to consider.  If women give birth before the age of 25, the child’s odds are about 25 to 1, however, if they give birth after the age of 25, the child’s odds increase to about 100 to 1. The twist on this is if both parents have type 1 diabetes, the odds vary between 10 to 1 and 4 to 1.

Type 2 diabetes usually runs in families. This happens because children learn bad habits from their parents and pass it to their offspring. Typically, type 2 diabetics have a 1 in 7 to a 1 in 13 chance of passing on diabetes to their children depending on when they were diagnosed. Those odds drop dramatically if both parents have type 2 diabetes. Then, the odds are 1 in 2. 

So there you have it; a breakdown of the two types and how genetics play a role in each one. Hopefully the material was informative.