Is Diabetes Hereditary

My father has Diabetes do you think diabetes can affect me also I'm 17 years now? If yes then in how many years will it affect me?
(October 12, 2010)

Diabetes is one of the most common medical ailments and the fact that it practically controls your entire lifestyle means that it can have significant implications. Despite many years of research into the same, the question of ‘is diabetes hereditary’ is still debatable and once the genetic factors are understood scientists will have a better idea of how to treat the condition effectively. One of the biggest problems that we face in today’s world is the fact that the condition is currently spreading at epidemic rates – with type 2 diabetes being more common than the type 1 variety. For those that are unaware of exactly what diabetes is; the condition develops when the body is unable to produce or use any of the glucose that has been stored within the body. The glucose is the primary source of energy that allows the individual to carry out physical tasks over the course of the day.


The main difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes is the fact that type 1 can affect children as well as young adults – making them dependent on insulin injections for primary survival even at a very young age while type two diabetes is more likely to develop through the course of aging and will usually develop around the age of about 40.

In relation to the question of ‘is type one diabetes hereditary’ – research by the American diabetes association shows that an individual whose mother suffers from type 1 diabetes, there is an increased risk in the child also developing the same condition. Statistics attribute the condition to be present in about 1 in very 25 children with the same set of circumstances. In the event the father suffers from type 1diabetes, the instances of the child being affected are upto about 1 in 17.  Gestational diabetes has a much clearer link when it comes to hereditary and diabetes primarily because the condition is said to be present when the mother develops diabetes during her pregnancy. Research shows that about 2 to 7% of pregnant women will experience this. However, again the condition can be staved off by eating the right kinds of foods and avoiding any substantial indulgences.

Another common question asked is ‘is hypoglycemia hereditary?’ However, studies have shown that the condition, characterized by low blood glucose or blood sugar levels is the result of an inadequate diet and is not influenced at all by hereditary and genetics.

Because of the fact that conditions like diabetes and hypoglycemia are rather common, there are a number of home remedies that have been tried and tested all over the world with surprisingly effective outcomes that you could try. Make it a point, for instance, to eat small meals instead of large meals over the course of the day while restricting your intake of foods like mutton and foods that may contain excess amounts of salt. Garlic is known to contain a substance known as allicin that helps reduce sugar levels in the blood and brings about disintegration of cholesterol in the body.

It is not predictable that you will get diabetes later in life, although the risk of developing the disease is higher than those who do not have either parent with diabetes. According to medical research if you father has developed Type 1 diabetes then the chances of you developing diabetes is 1 in 17. Genetic inclination is a risk element for both types of diabetes; however a lot depends upon your lifestyle and other factors that will finally determine whether you will develop diabetes or not. Important lifestyle factors such as the amount of weight you put on, and your fitness regime will influence the development of diabetes. At the age of 17 it is a good idea, to embark on a lifetime of healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight in addition to getting regular exercise. This will ensure that your risk of getting diabetes is at the minimum. Type two diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. This occurs due to lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diet and lack of exercise which also lead to being overweight. Type 2 diabetes usually occurs late in life, however with unhealthy lifestyle patterns more and more young adults and children are becoming susceptible to the disorder. Keep a track of your weight and ensure that your food habits are not dependent upon junk foods and irregular meal timings.

The good news is that at your age you can easily influence your lifestyle patterns and eventually determine the fitness of your body. Take steps to reduce your chances of developing diabetes by ensuring that you get optimum exercise every day. Include as much activity as possible and take every opportunity to move and walk around whenever possible. Do not opt for sedentary activities as these will only make you feel lazier and make your body adapt to an easy lifestyle which can prove risky in the longer run. Maintaining knowledge of your blood glucose level is also important just as keeping a tab on your cholesterol levels. You will need to speak to your family doctor and seek advice on how to monitor the amount of glucose in your blood as well as maintain your cholesterol levels. It is highly possible that you will not develop diabetes if you adopt a healthy lifestyle and correct your current habits as soon as possible. More than genetic predisposition, environmental factors also need to be controlled in order to prevent diseases or disorders.