“If my mother has diabetes am I guaranteed to have it later in life?”
I am a 19 year old male. I want to know if my mother has diabetes am I guaranteed to have it later in life?
6 Answers
The short answer is No. You can do many things to prevent diabetes in your younger years. Mainly, that means leading a healthy lifestyle and avoiding an over-abundance of sugar, carbohydrates and starches. I would also recommend that your exercise regularly and avoid sugary drinks. Doing these will dramatically reduce the risk of ever getting diabetes. It would be good, however, to understand which type of diabetes your mother has (type 1 or type II).
The risk for TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS in siblings of patients is 15-fold higher than the risk in the general population. The pattern of inheritance is complex, and the development of disease is thought to be determined by an interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental triggers. Concordance rates for T1D in monozygous twins with long-term follow-up is found in non-twin siblings. Among first-degree relatives, siblings are at a higher risk (5%–10% risk by age 20) than offspring; offspring of diabetic fathers are at a higher risk (approximately 12%) than offspring of diabetic mothers (approximately 6%).
Not at all! The biggest risk factors for diabetes are lifestyle issues, not heredity. Maintain healthy weight, exercise, eat healthy foods. This won’t guarantee that you won’t get diabetes, but it sure improves your odds.
Type 2 diabetes, which is non-insulin dependent, is more likely to be seen in successive generations due to genetics. Avoiding excessive weight gain, remaining physically active and consuming a healthy diet help in preventing diabetes mellitus type 2. Your health care provider should monitor your blood tests (glucose level, hemoglobin A1c) to alert you if critical
thresholds are exceeded and to guide you in prevention. Vitamin D is an important supplement which supports cells in your pancreas that produce insulin.
Nicholas H.E. Mezitis, MD, PhD
thresholds are exceeded and to guide you in prevention. Vitamin D is an important supplement which supports cells in your pancreas that produce insulin.
Nicholas H.E. Mezitis, MD, PhD
You are not guaranteed to have it. There is a strong genetic component but there is a good chance you can live your entire life without getting diabetes. Watch your sugar/carbohydrate intake. Make sure that your family physician screens you yearly for diabetes.
Dear patient,
If Mom is Type 2 diabetic, there is a very close genetic relationship of you getting the disease. To avoid getting diabetes, you should maintain a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise. If Mom is a type 1 diabetic, there is little likelihood of her passing it to you.
Respectfully,
Marvin A. Leder, MD FACP FACE
If Mom is Type 2 diabetic, there is a very close genetic relationship of you getting the disease. To avoid getting diabetes, you should maintain a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise. If Mom is a type 1 diabetic, there is little likelihood of her passing it to you.
Respectfully,
Marvin A. Leder, MD FACP FACE
