Diabetes And Genetics. Do We Have An Answer For It?

Although many diagnosed with diabetes have the disease somewhere in their family medical history, diabetes is not a disease that is inherited in any simple pattern.

First of all, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes do not have the same
causes. However, there are two factors that are involved in
both: there must be an inherent predisposition for the disease
and there must be a trigger for it.

Proof that genes alone are not enough to get diabetes can be
found in the case of identical twins. Identical twins have
identical genes, yet in cases where one twin is diagnosed with
Type 1 diabetes there is only a 50% chance that the other twin
will also develop the Type 1 diabetes. If the diagnosis is Type
2 diabetes, then the risk goes to 3 out of four for chance. A
mixture of nature and environmental factors make it impossible
to determine who will get diabetes and who will not.

Type 1 Diabetes

When it comes to Type 1 diabetes, people generally need to
inherit risk factors from both sides of their family. These
risk factors are very prevalent in Caucasian segments of the
population. Still, even those who are at risk do not always get
diabetes, prodding researchers to dig deeper into what possible
environmental triggers there are that set off the disease.

Type 1 diabetes is known to occur more often in winter than in
summer and therefore has researchers believing that cold
weather is a possible trigger. Viruses are also suspected as a
trigger as well as other auto-immune diseases. (Diseases in
which the immune system attacks the body’s tissues.)

Type 2 Diabetes

Of the two types of diabetes, Type 2 has the stronger genetic
base but depends a great deal more on environmental factors.
The genetic predisposition for Type 2 diabetes mixed with those
living in a Western lifestyle is an infamous cocktail for
developing this disease. As is such with the great majority of
the Western diet and lifestyle, too much fat and refined
carbohydrates and not enough fiber coupled with inactivity has
birthed this disease into epidemic proportions. As obesity
rises, so do reports of diabetes. In comparison, those living
in areas of the world that are not Westernized do not develop
Type 2 diabetes despite their high genetic risk.

Gestational Diabetes.

Gestational diabetes, diabetes that develops during pregnancy,
has no clear genetic or environmental triggers. Although women
who develop the disease are more likely to have a family
history of diabetes, it is unclear what other non-genetic
factors play a role. Women who put off having children until
their later years and women who are overweight seem to be the
most common groups to be diagnosed but this is not always the
case.

So what is the conclusion here? You can have the genetic risk,
environment, and the lifestyle triggers, and still not develop
diabetes. The other side is also true. Diabetes can develop
without many of the triggers.

The only thing that we as a human race can do is limit the
triggers for diabetes as much as we can. Eat healthy, exercise
regularly, keep our weight under control and hope that our
genes are in our favor.

About The Author: This content is provided by Dr Pieter de Wet
a general practitioner and in practice for 20 years. It may be
used only in its entirety with all links included. Get your
diabetes, diabetes symptoms and diabetes treatment advice at
http://www.thediabetesdoc.com

John V
John C. Vincent/CEO/The Opt.In Magic System
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