Not 'within the family'...

[Newtothis]

I always thought my diagnosis of diabetes was genetic; my younger brother was diagnosed at 35 and is on 6 tablets a day and 2 injections, so I'm obviously working hard to try and keep of medication for as long as possible.

I was told by my mother that my paternal grandfather had diabetes and so did a cousin so I assumed it was genetic; however, found out the only 2 members of the D club in our family is me and my brother... 🙄

Nothing to do with family genetics....

 

[sweetsatin]

Diabetes itself is not hereditary; although the risk factors that a person has are passed down through the genes, therefore making it more likely that the next generation will have it. An estimated 80% of those diagnosed with diabetes each year have at least one family member who already has diabetes.

 

[novorapidboi26]

well as far as type 2 is concerned, symptoms are not always obvious, probably more so the further back in time you travel........so no recorded diagnosis....

my opinion is that there is some genetic influence in all diabetics.........

 

[Steff]

Ive never thought it genetic as im the only type 2 in my whole family, ive asked my dad and he has gone quite far back into my family history on his side and my uncle has on my mothers side and nothing,my uncle had type 1 but thats it

 

[sweetsatin]

My grandma got diabetes late on in life and i'm the only other member of the family with D

 

[cherrypie]

Diagnosis was not always done and many people never knew that they had Type2 and some people died of related symptoms of Type2, heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure..........

With regards to genetics, it has to start somewhere, not necessarily years ago. You could be the genetic link for future generations.

 

[Dizzydi]

I'm in the genetics opinion to

Grandma
Mum
Me

All type of 2

Grandma was adopted so no family history before her

Mum is first daughter of grandma, and I'm first daughter of mum!

 

[Mark T]

Type 2 is said to be caused by a number of faulty genes and therefore it is apparently possible to inherit one or two of the genes and not get Type 2, then another of the family inherit a full sweep and get Type 2.

You can also have random gene mutations (although I thought that was quite rare).

Or it could be that you ate too much sugar and gave it to yourself! 😛

I've seen it written that there could be environmental causes that if you are exposed to them could cause Type 2 (I don't personally subscribe to the theory) to susceptible people - but that would be genes as well.

 

[Newtothis]

Type 2 is said to be caused by a number of faulty genes and therefore it is apparently possible to inherit one or two of the genes and not get Type 2, then another of the family inherit a full sweep and get Type 2.

You can also have random gene mutations (although I thought that was quite rare).

Or it could be that you ate too much sugar and gave it to yourself! 😛

I've seen it written that there could be environmental causes that if you are exposed to them could cause Type 2 (I don't personally subscribe to the theory) to susceptible people - but that would be genes as well.

I believe I gave it myself; I have had a sweet tooth and ate c**p for years and over the last 5-10 years my weight went up; resulting in being the heaviest I've ever been.. I just hope, keeping everything crossed, I haven't passed it on to my son..

 

[lauraw1983]

well as far as type 2 is concerned, symptoms are not always obvious, probably more so the further back in time you travel........so no recorded diagnosis....

my opinion is that there is some genetic influence in all diabetics.........

Absolutely, me too. Or metabolic disorders anyway.

Surely it is "within your family" if you and your brother both have it? It doesnt need to be a parent or grandparent??

 

[cherrypie]

I believe I gave it myself; I have had a sweet tooth and ate c**p for years and over the last 5-10 years my weight went up; resulting in being the heaviest I've ever been.. I just hope, keeping everything crossed, I haven't passed it on to my son..

There have been 38 genes identified so far.

http://www.well.ox.ac.uk/jun-10-genetics-of-type-2-diabetes

If everyone who "had a sweet tooth and ate c**p" all ended up with Diabetes then your statement would make sense.
I have never eaten "c**p" am underweight and I have Type2.

 

[Katieb]

I was told absoultely and categorically that diabetes is a genetic condition and therefore sometimes hereditary. I was told that, because my dad and grandmother had diabetes, I will "most probably" develop diabetes as I have IGT and that nothing I have ever done/will ever do can stop it if I am genetically predisposed. At best I can slow the process down, but my doctor told me that even if I was a skinny marathon runner (which I am not!) I would probably still develop diabetes if it is in my genes! I do believe that my being overweight probably contributed to the development of IGT so early in my life. A very high proportion of over 70s (I think the figure is 1 in 3 according to Diabetes UK) go on to develop diabetes anyway as their pancreas slows down. Katiex

 

[AlisonM]

No-one in my family, with the possible exception of one great-great uncle has ever had any kind of diabetes. Mine appears to be the result of an impaired immune system and damage to some of my organs which is apparently due to a combination of Addison's Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis. There is a long history of obesity and hypertension on both sides and I am a whale, but have low BP. My mother, also seriously obese, was tested frequently in the last twenty years of her life and her BGs were always well within tolerance. My maternal uncle and paternal aunt are the same as mum and so is my brother. He was tested for the Big D recently and is clear, BGs normal.

So, I'm the odd one out in my family. Ah well every rule needs an exception.

 

[Ndel]

I was diagnosed with type 1 at 10 years old. My cousin developed it 4 years before me at 4 years old. Then my uncle, her father, developed it and was the healthiest man going @ 45, then my mother developed it, but was 2 stone overweight at the time. Myself an my cousin are the youngest in each family and were both the healthiest and fittest. My granda, my mam's dad got it in later years and my dads sister got it when she was 18. My uncle, dads brother, got type 2 @ 46 and refused to come to terms with it. he's blind in one eye now and still not looking after himself.

So its all over both sides of my family.
My niece, who is 8, my sisters daughter, is being tested for diabetes, and iron deficiency at the moment, as she has lost some weight but her sugars are normal. They are afraid it might be the start of it.
I myself dont think it is as should it not have shown at this stage, but i suppose its a precaution.

Finished rambling now..

noelle

 

[slipper]

I wonder if it is "dormant" and awaiting perhaps some form of trauma. My mother became diabetic after a heart attack (but could have had it all the time), I was leading a sedentary life and getting overweight, then found to have it during tests for other things.

Could also be just not tested for and thus not found of course.

 

[Newtothis]

There have been 38 genes identified so far.

http://www.well.ox.ac.uk/jun-10-genetics-of-type-2-diabetes

If everyone who "had a sweet tooth and ate c**p" all ended up with Diabetes then your statement would make sense.
I have never eaten "c**p" am underweight and I have Type2.

The statement I made was personal to meand not an open statement; because I know that for years I ate all the wrong things; sweets; cakes; crisps; biscuits; you name it I ate it; not because I was hungry but because it was there, this resulted in me putting on a lot of weight and being unfit. If I had taken notice of my body then and made an effort to lose weight and get fit I would like to think I might not have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Although my younger brother and myself have Type 2; my older brother and younger sister do not; I just really hope my son hasn't inherited it...