Is Diabetes Hereditary? How Do You Become Diabetic?

The question, "Is diabetes hereditary" has been troubling researchers all over the world since many years and they are still struggling to find out a convincing answer. Diabetes Mellitus has become one of the most widespread diseases in the world. Diabetes is emerging as a common disease not only in the Western countries but also in developing countries. An estimated 16 to 18 million people in the US have diabetes, but the amazing fact is that approximately half of these are not even aware that they are diabetic. Even though diabetes itself is a major health disorder, the side effects of the disease are equally threatening. For example, diabetes may eventually lead to kidney ailments, heart diseases, glaucoma etc. Researchers are still looking for concrete answers for the question, "How do you become diabetic?" Many people are asking whether diabetes is hereditary and do genes play any role in getting the disease.

Before trying to find answers to the question whether diabetes is hereditary and if so, why is it hereditary, it is better to know a few basic facts about diabetes. Diabetes Mellitus is a disorder that occurs when the glucose in the bloodstream is not absorbed by the cells properly, with the result there is much higher than normal level of glucose or sugar in the blood. It means that pancreas is not producing enough insulin or the insulin produced is not utilized properly. The body cannot, therefore, properly use the energy from the food, leading to thirst, tiredness, changes in weight and frequent urination. Two types of diabetes that can affect people are: Type 1 diabetes, also called Juvenile Onset or Insulin Dependent Diabetes and Type 2 diabetes or Adult Onset or Insulin Independent diabetes. Type 1 diabetes affects children and young adults, making them dependent on insulin to regain normal health..People over 40 years of age, those who are overweight, have a family history of diabetes and unhealthy lifestyles, usually, get Type 2 diabetes People of all the age groups, such as children, teenagers, adults and old people are affected by diabetes these days. It is common occurrence nowadays that in most cases, if one or both the parents have diabetes, their children. tend to develop diabetes sometime or other in their life. The most important factor that, perhaps, explains this feature relates to 'genes'. Genes are passed on from parents to their children. When the child inherits the gene for Type1 diabetes, he or she may develop the disease at some stage in their life. On the other hand, if these genes are not present, that person will not develop Type 1 diabetes. However, in respect of Type 2 diabetes, there is no such genetic arrangement. It appears, therefore, that the chances of a person developing diabetes depend on the number of people in the family suffering from diabetes. In addition, certain types of genetic disorders, such as, Down's syndrome, enhance the risk of getting diabetes. Down's syndrome is caused by a person having three copies of 'chromosome 21' instead of two copies and therefore, Down's syndrome is also known as, 'Trisomy 21'.

Chromosomes contain the genetic code, which monitors and commands division of cells, their growth and the working. The structures inside the nuclei of living cells contain hereditary information. A person usually has 46 chromosomes, 23 inherited from each parent. Each person has a distinctive genetic code, which makes the physical appearance of each person different. The American Diabetes Association has provided certain interesting statistics on the hereditary aspect of diabetes. 

If a person whose mother has Type1 diabetes, then the risk of her child getting diabetes is 1 in 25 and if the person was born before either of the parents was 25 years old, the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes is 1 in 100. If the father has Type 1 diabetes, the chances of the individual getting diabetes is 1 in 17. In case, either mother or father has Type2 diabetes before they are 50 years of age, the chances of that person developing diabetes are 1 in 7 and if either of them gets it after they are 50, the risk of passing on diabetes to their off-spring is 1 in 13.