How Is Diabetes Inherited?

It has been discovered that diabetes is a type of disease that can be inherited. Genetics play a big factor in the transmittal of this disease from one host to another, more particularly from parents to offspring.

In all simplicity, the exact details of how diabetes is inherited are not yet clear. To further explain this, it is best to define the two types of diabetes first. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is referred to as the insulin dependent diabetes. This is the type that mostly occurs in younger people. In the most severe cases of this disease, patients of type 1 diabetes require insulin injections in order to feel better.

On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes is the non-insulin dependent diabetes. This one is milder in nature when compared to Type 1 diabetes. It occurs in older people too. It is also the one that is more easily controlled with tablets and diet.
 
Of these two types of diabetes, genetics play a bigger role in Type 1. It may also be a factor in Type 2 diabetes but not in the same context as Type 1. Generally speaking, the offspring of a diabetic has higher risks of developing the disease as well. But then again, there are other underlying factors that further influence these risks.

First of all, the sex of the parent that has the disease is a factor. Speaking in terms of figures, the instances of type 1 diabetes occurring is around 1% to 2%. If the mother has diabetes, then the offspring’s risk of acquiring the disease is 2% to 4%. Now if it is the father that has the disease, then the probability goes up to around 6% to 8%.

But aside from the sex of the parent, the age that they developed the disease is another factor as well. The earlier that the parent has acquired the disease, the greater are the chances that the child would develop it too. Type 1 diabetes is already considered as a common childhood disease. More often than not, inherited Type 1 diabetes begins during the puberty stage.

The genetic theory of diabetes being inherited is tested on a sister to brother or a son to daughter scenario. Studies have shown that if there is somebody in the family have Type 1 diabetes, their first degree relatives have six in one hundred chances of developing the same disease as well. When compared to the general population, which is one in two hundred fifty, theirs is relatively higher.