With so many people affected by diabetes, there has been increasing interest among the scientific community and the public at large in discovering how diabetes traits may be inherited, and who is at greatest risk of developing the disease. According to the American Diabetes Association, two factors influence the development of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes: a genetic predisposition to the disease and environmental triggers.
Family history appears to play a greater role in developing Type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association points to cases of identical twins: When one twin has Type 1 diabetes, the other twin develops the disease at most only half the time. However, when one twin has Type 2 diabetes, the other’s risk of developing the disease can climb as high as 75 percent. Whether or not this risk is directly attributable to genetic diabetes traits is unclear; unfortunately, lifestyle factors that contribute to diabetes, such as poor diet and lack of exercise, tend to run in families as well.
Environmental Triggers of Diabetes
When it comes to diabetes risk, genetics only tells part of the story. While diabetes traits may be inherited, not everyone who is predisposed will develop the disease. The twin studies cited above are telling: Identical twins share the same genes, yet if one twin has the disease, the other does not automatically get it. Environmental triggers differ for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes may be influenced by a variety of factors, including viruses and cold climates. Scientists also speculate that Type 1 diabetes may be affected by early diet: Studies show Type 1 diabetes is less common in people who were breastfed and who started eating solid foods at later ages.
A major risk factor of Type 2 diabetes is obesity. High-fat diets and lack of exercise can contribute to obesity, increasing one’s risk of developing diabetes. With obesity becoming an epidemic in the United States, it’s not surprising that Type 2 diabetes, so closely tied to obesity, accounts for 90 to 95 percent of diabetes cases, according to the Center for Disease Control.
Hope for Those With Diabetes Traits
For those who are predisposed to diabetes, certain lifestyle changes can reduce their risk of developing the disease. According to the Center for Disease Control, people with above-average glucose levels, who are not yet categorized as diabetic, can lower their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 58 percent by losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight and getting at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week. Diabetics should consult with their physicians to learn how physical activity and dietary interventions–along with medication, when necessary–can help manage the effects of diabetes.
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