Hi!
Im 17 years old, and Alot of people in my family have diabetes. My grandfather has it, his son. my dad has it (it's just borderline though)his sister, my aunt has it, and my 14 year old cousin was just diagnnosed with it last year. I was just wondering id in fact it was hereditary and if i wa at risk or if i should get tested?!
Thanks!

Diabetes does tend to be a hereditary disease. Since so many people in your family have it, probably wouldn't hurt for you to get tested.

Take care!

Nicola http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

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[This message has been edited by moderator3 (edited 04-07-2002).]

Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes in the United States is getting out of control (it's increasing constantly), largely because of poor diet and lack of exercise. It's reaching a crisis stage. (I'm not familiar with the statistics in Canada and the UK, or other countries.)

Some families may follow a pattern of poor diets and sedentary lifestyles. In addition to genetics, you should look at those factors too. You can check the internet for this information, to get you started.

In addition to following your doctor's advice, you should review healthy natural choices. I find that non-processed foods are best for me, to maintain health and weight control. Years ago, I started an exercise program, and it has made a big difference in the way I feel everyday. More and more, I have found the role in preventative care so important.

It does seem to be hereditary (my maternal grandfather had it, my mom has it and my maternal uncle also has it). So it runs on my mom's side of the family.

I would just go to your doctor and have your sugar monitored every year to make sure that it doesn't get out of control. I believe the doctor can run a hbA-1-c blood test to see a three month average. This test is run for diabetics but normal people can have it done.

Good luck!
Christine.

Glucose tests are done to check for diabetes so ask your doctor about this see if they recommend getting tested. Diabetes can tend to run in families and the higher the family history the more chance you may have of having it.

My dad was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in September 2001, and he's the first person in our family history to get it. How much am I at risk for it? Should I even get tested?

http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif My husband has diabetes. Both his mother,
father, and grandfather also have it. I will say that
my husband's diabetes is not as severe as his parents and his grandfather. My husband also told me that he
knew he would get diabetes since it runs in his family.

What about juvinille diabetes? Is that genetic too?

I think that Type 1 (Juvenile) Diabetes is more hereditary than type 2 (adult-onset).

Infomation for Type 1 diabetics from Healthboards Webcast Transcript ( with Iliana Vargas, MD; Holly Schachner, MD) suggests that Type 2 diabetes is more hereditory than Type 1. It also mentions that screening tests for antibodies are avaliable to test susceptibilty for Type 1 diabetes.