How can diabetes be inherited

Eating healthful, balanced meals : A diet that focuses on fresh fruits and vegetables, fiber, and whole grains can help with maintaining a healthy weight and preventing blood sugar spikes. Click here to learn more about how to reduce the risk factors and manage different types of diabetes. Anyone with a family history of any type of diabetes should be aware of the symptoms of high blood sugar, which include exhaustion and excessive thirst and urination.

If these appear suddenly, they can indicate type 1 diabetes. Symptoms of type 2 can take longer to show, and complications, such as cardiovascular disease, may already be present. People with a family history of type 2 diabetes, or with risk factors such as obesity, should maintain a healthful diet and a healthy weight.

They should also get plenty of exercise and speak to a doctor about screening. Diabetes is a condition that can dominate what a person eats and how they live their life. However, measures are now available allowing people can….

A person can manage their diabetes by making healthful changes to their diet, exercising frequently, and regularly taking the necessary medications…. Insulin helps the body use glucose to produce energy.

Insulin resistance occurs when excess sugar circulates in the body. Over time, it can lead to…. Hyperglycemia is a term for high blood sugar levels. It can indicate diabetes and cause severe health problems without careful blood sugar management. Can diabetes be passed down in the genes? Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Type 1 Type 2 Gestational diabetes Diabetes insipidus Reducing the risk Takeaway Diabetes is a complex condition with several types and no clear cause.

Is type 1 diabetes hereditary? Share on Pinterest Type 1 diabetes often appears in young people. Is type 2 diabetes hereditary? Share on Pinterest Obesity and a family history of type 2 diabetes are risk factors for developing the disease. Gestational diabetes. Diabetes insipidus. A review outlines lifestyle factors that studies have associated with the disease and may lead to obesity, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance.

A person can reduce or avoid the following to try and lower their risk for developing type 2 diabetes:. Americans can also join a National Diabetes Prevention Program to learn how to make changes to help reverse prediabetes and prevent type 2 diabetes.

Learn seven ways to help prevent type 2 diabetes here. People can carry out a test to determine if they have specific genes that put them at more risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Companies such as 23andMe offer this type of test. Genetic testing can motivate someone to make changes to their diet and lifestyle habits to help reduce their risk. People can speak to their healthcare professional to find out if genetic testing is suitable for them. See a list of other tests for diabetes and what to expect with each one here.

Type 2 diabetes has a genetic link that can make people with a family history more at risk for developing the disease. There are several genes involved, and people can find out if they have these with genetic testing. But because genes can change expression due to environmental factors, people can influence whether they develop type 2 diabetes with diet and lifestyle strategies. Other factors such as smoking, stress, and insomnia may also play a role in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes may develop for several reasons, including poor diet and lack of exercise. Age is also a risk factor. Once people reach a certain age…. But it can occur at any age. Autoantibodies that attack the insulin-producing beta cells may be in the blood for years before a diagnosis is made, according to the ADA.

In the United States, white people have higher rates of type 1 diabetes than other racial and ethnic groups. So do people globally who live in colder, northern climates. Furthermore, type 1 diabetes onset is more likely to happen in the winter months. It has been observed to be triggered by viral infections.

Nutrition in infancy may also play a role. A study published in July in Diabetes Care found evidence that being breastfed as a baby lowered the risk of type 1 diabetes. While people who have a family history of type 1 diabetes may be predisposed to developing it, the inheritance pattern in most cases is unclear, according to MedlinePlus. Between 90 and 95 percent of all diabetes cases are type 2, and the disease typically develops in people who are older than People in most ethnic groups are at risk for type 2 diabetes if their body mass index BMI , which is a measure of body weight calculated using weight relative to height, is 25 or higher.

So is having depression or polycystic ovary syndrome. The genetic test is only going to reveal an association or a probability that someone might get type 1 or type 2 diabetes, because the disease is not only caused by genetic variation. Facebook Twitter. Most pregnant women do not go on to develop gestational diabetes , but some do. As with type 2 diabetes, a combination of genes, environment, and lifestyle factors are likely in play. Many women who develop the condition have at least one close family member, such as a parent or sibling, who has had gestational diabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is associated with high blood pressure during pregnancy called preeclampsia and premature birth. Babies born to mothers with the condition tend to have a higher than normal birth weight, which can create complications during delivery. The infants of women with gestational diabetes are also more likely to develop dangerously low blood sugar levels soon after birth. Later in life, these children have an increased risk of developing obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

The risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases with the number of affected family members. The increased risk is likely due in part to shared genetic factors, but it is also related to lifestyle influences such as eating and exercise habits that are shared by members of a family.

Genetics Home Reference has merged with MedlinePlus. Learn more. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Type 2 diabetes. From Genetics Home Reference. Description Type 2 diabetes is a disorder characterized by abnormally high blood sugar levels.

Frequency Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, accounting for 90 to 95 percent of all cases. Causes The causes of type 2 diabetes are complex. Inheritance Type 2 diabetes does not have a clear pattern of inheritance, although many affected individuals have at least one close family member, such as a parent or sibling, with the disease.

Research Studies from ClinicalTrials. Curr Diab Rep. Epub Feb Erratum in: Lancet. Genome-wide trans-ancestry meta-analysis provides insight into the genetic architecture of type 2 diabetes susceptibility.