Passing this on to our kids

[Del]

Hi everyone,

I just have another question for others more knowledgeable than I- This is something that robs me of way more sleep more than having diabetes myself.

I have the best two kids in the world, 5 and 3 years old. They are both still wonderfully healthy. I was diagnosed about 6 weeks ago now. Does type one run in families- seems to always be the first question I get both from doctors and others- "do you have anyone in your family with diabetes". Are there any studies (or better yet personal anecdotes from you guys) about passing on the autoimmune disease? It's bad enough that I have to go through all this but it would break my heart to have to go through it with one of my kids.

Thanks
Del

[Dewey]

Hi Del,

While I cannot give actual medical facts with reference to heredity, I was able to find this:

Is type 1 diabetes hereditary?

Ninety percent of children who develop type 1 diabetes actually have no relative with the disease. Thanks to studies of families, researchers now can identify at birth when a baby carries some of the genes that indicate risk factors for type 1 diabetes. Certain genes called HLA markers are associated with diabetes risk. If a child is born with such markers, his or her risk of developing type 1 diabetes is about the same as if he or she had a sibling with diabetes, even though no other family member may have the disease. There are other genes that also create risk for diabetes that have not yet been identified.Resource: JDRF - FAQs (http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=100061)

I will say that I am the Only one in my family with Type I Diabetes. In my family, nobody before or since (other than me) has developed any signs of it. Not sure if anyone else has noticed a similar trend, but I think others mentioned that they were in similar situations. When diagnosed, my doctor did say that Type I was not hereditary, and Type II was. Throughout the years, I've heard the same thing. From the looks of it, most of what's been learned by medical communities indicates that it's not.

[Clint]

in my family, my moms parents both developed Type 1 but my mom and her sister did not. It seems to skip every other generation in our family. This may not be true, but it seems to be in our case.

[camjen1]

Hi everyone,

I just have another question for others more knowledgeable than I- This is something that robs me of way more sleep more than having diabetes myself.

I have the best two kids in the world, 5 and 3 years old. They are both still wonderfully healthy. I was diagnosed about 6 weeks ago now. Does type one run in families- seems to always be the first question I get both from doctors and others- "do you have anyone in your family with diabetes". Are there any studies (or better yet personal anecdotes from you guys) about passing on the autoimmune disease? It's bad enough that I have to go through all this but it would break my heart to have to go through it with one of my kids.

Thanks
Del

Mannnnn, I thought I had the best kids. :D Just Kidding.

I am T1 and I am the only one in my family to have it. Now there was reason to believe my daughter was diabetic but all the testing done proved she was not.

If your kids ever show symptoms then don't hesitate to request the DR's to do testing. Also since you have a meter it wouldn't hurt to check them on occassion (sp) yourself.

[CarlyesHope]

In our family, no one on my side (mom) has ever had diabetes, on Carlye's dad's side, her great grandfather had it but not her dad or her grandfather.

Another factor we were told is that Carlye is part Asian, her dad is 1/2 japanese with his mother born/raised/concieved and spent 8 months of her pregnancy in Japan all had a factor in my children getting diabetes.

I would agree, I would, in a heartbeat take this away from my daughter and upon myself if I could. We now will have to closely watch my younger daughter for symptoms :(

[lgvincent]

I was the only member of my family to have diabetes for a long time. However, about 10 years after I developed it, a lot of my aunts and uncles started developing adult-onset diabetes. They must have seen how much fun I was having with the disease and didn't want to miss out but were afraid to commit to juvenile-onset like me.

[duck]

In our family, no one on my side (mom) has ever had diabetes, on Carlye's dad's side, her great grandfather had it but not her dad or her grandfather.

Another factor we were told is that Carlye is part Asian, her dad is 1/2 japanese with his mother born/raised/concieved and spent 8 months of her pregnancy in Japan all had a factor in my children getting diabetes.

I would agree, I would, in a heartbeat take this away from my daughter and upon myself if I could. We now will have to closely watch my younger daughter for symptoms :(

What does being asian have to do with becoming diabetic?

[daddyo]

MY grandmother got type 1 at age 60, my father got type 1 at age 40, I got type one at age 20, my oldest daughter got type 1 at age 7, Grandmother was the oldest of 2, my father was the oldest of 2, I however am the youngest of 7, my daughter is the oldest of 2, skipping generations, I think not, running in the family, well I quess so. That's my history. I just hope for a cure, Meanwhile you live with it the best you can.

[Cinnabon]

I'm the first that I know of w/ T1. I have had Endos tell me it is, then I had a few tell me that tell me its not and blame it on a bad gene cluster. I know I was ALL WRAPPED UP with that divine cluster.. BLAH!!!! LOL. I think there is SOOO much more that should be researched on this subject. There are a lot of loose ends. My daughter, thankfully, was not Diabetic, but I must always keep checking her.

[Zokes]

I'm the lone diabetic in my family and extended family. To date (thank God) my kids (17 & 14) are d-free. I check them every so often and pray they never enter our club.

[camjen1]

MY grandmother got type 1 at age 60, my father got type 1 at age 40, I got type one at age 20, my oldest daughter got type 1 at age 7, Grandmother was the oldest of 2, my father was the oldest of 2, I however am the youngest of 7, my daughter is the oldest of 2, skipping generations, I think not, running in the family, well I quess so. That's my history. I just hope for a cure, Meanwhile you live with it the best you can.


Can you repeat that and much slower this time. LOL :D

[daddyo]

Can you repeat that and much slower this time. LOL :D

Here you go Sandi; :) :) :) :)

Myyyyy graaaandmooother gooot tyyype ooooone aaaat aaaaaaage siiiixty, myyyyyy faaaaather gooooot tyyyype ooooooone aaaaaat aaaaage foooooorty, IIIIIIIIIII gooooot tyyyyyype ooooooone aaaaaaat aaaaaage tweeeeeeenty, mmmmyyyyyy ooooooolllldest dauauaugheeeer goooot tyyyyype oooooonnnneeee aaaaaat aaaaggee seeeeveeeen, myyyyyy Graaaaandmooooootheeeer waaaaaas theeeeeee ooooolllldesssssst ooooooof twoooooo, myyyyyyy faaaaaaatheeeeer waaaaas theeeeee oooollllldeeeeeest ooooof twooooooo, IIIIIIIIIIII hooooowwwweeeeeveeeeeer aaaaaaam theeeeeee yououououngeeeest oooooof seeeeeeveeeeen, myyyyyyy dauauauaughteeeeeeer iiiiiiis theeeee oooooooldeeeeeeest ooooooof twoooooooo, skiiiiiiiipiiiiing geeeeeeneeeeeraaaaaatioioions, iiiiiiiii thiiiiiink nooooot, ruuuuuuunniiiiiiing iiiiiiin theeeeeeee faaaaaamiiiiiilyyyyy, weeeeell IIIIIII queeeeeeessss sooooooo, thaaaaaaaat'sssss myyyyyyyy hiiiiiissstooooory. IIIIIII juuuuust hooooope foooooor aaaaaaa cuuuuure, meeeeeeeanwhiiiiiiile youuuuuuuuu liiiiiiiiive wiiiiiiiith iiiiiiiit theeeeeeee beeeeeeest youuuuuuuu caaaaaan.

Well I hope that helps Sandi :D :D ;) ;) And have a nice day.

[DeusXM]

What does being asian have to do with becoming diabetic?

Certain races are appear to have higher incidences of developing diabetes, presumably because of genetics. Asians, Orientals and Native Americans all have higher rates of diabetes (both T1 and T2) than white populations.

However, I'm not sure how being pregnant in Japan can influence your child's chances of developing diabetes.

[LauRa Lu]

Me and my cousin are both type 1, although nobody prior to us had it in the familly.

My uncle who isn't blood related to me at all has type 1, he has 3 sons and a daughter and none of them have it. They're all adults now.

[CarlyesHope]

What does being asian have to do with becoming diabetic?

We were told that Asians have a greater risk of getting diabetes.

[CarlyesHope]

However, I'm not sure how being pregnant in Japan can influence your child's chances of developing diabetes.

We were told that there is a difference between being Japanese/American and being Japanese - Duh. Carlyes dad was exposed for 8.5 months, in vetro, to the elements, unknown, that put Asians at risk, we were told it is a combo of their environment: how they live, where they live, what they eat, their medical care, how they prepare thier foods - you get the picture.

The research I did, though had a tough time locating it, stated that being exposed to the "real" asian life as opposed to being Asian and being born/raised here could have made all the difference in the world with regards to my children getting diabetes and not.

All of this is just a possible factor, it could have nothing to do with why my daughter got diabetes, after all, the great-grandfather, on her dads side that had it is not Asian.

[CarlyesHope]

I'm not sure I want to know the answer to this, but i'm going to ask anyway.

My daughter is diabetic. what about babies?

what are her risks,(doesn't it just destroy your body)?

what are the chances of passing it onto her kids?

Did any of you have kids knowing you were a diabetic?

[JasonSmithMT]

Here is a chart with some risk percentages. In case some don't know a 'proband' is the individual who has the disease, in this case type 1 diabetes.

From Medical Management of Type 1 Diabetes - Fourth Edition

http://www.inet-pub.com/jason/familial_risk.gif



Jason

[Del]

Did any of you have kids knowing you were a diabetic?

No and since we want(ed) more children, I am having a long hard think about it currently. Although the chart Jason posted (great information, thanks) rates my situation as relatively "low risk" - 5% greater chance of my kids getting the disease.

My hat is off to all you parents of children with this. My greatest respect and admiration to all of you.

[jdstein11]

Hi everyone,

I just have another question for others more knowledgeable than I- This is something that robs me of way more sleep more than having diabetes myself.

I have the best two kids in the world, 5 and 3 years old. They are both still wonderfully healthy. I was diagnosed about 6 weeks ago now. Does type one run in families- seems to always be the first question I get both from doctors and others- "do you have anyone in your family with diabetes". Are there any studies (or better yet personal anecdotes from you guys) about passing on the autoimmune disease? It's bad enough that I have to go through all this but it would break my heart to have to go through it with one of my kids.

Thanks
Del
I certainly understand your concern; my wife and I decided that being open with our kids (boys 7 and 5) was the best approach, so they know everything that I do about what I have to do each day (diagnosed 5 days ago). However, when my older son asked me if he would also get this, I almost broke down (as many parents would) thinking that something in me may ultimately negatively affect my children. I've already gone through a harrowing experience during my wife's two pregnancies where we had to test both my kids to see if they carry a recessive gene from me that may increase the chance of miscarriage in their children. Thankfully, that will die with me and I'll never have to explain it to them.

I pray that they never have to go through this. While it's not the end of my world, we always hope for health and happiness for our children, and I hope that all they have to worry about is who they're playing with today.

[Clint]

We do the same thing with our kids. They know that I check my sugar and take insulin and they know what it means when I am 'low'.

My 3yr old asks me when I am checking my sugar, 'Daddy, you checking your sugar?'

I sure hope & pray that they dont go through this either.

[LauRa Lu]

what are the chances of passing it onto her kids?


I know I really want to have children in the future, probably in 4 years or so. I don't know how I'd cope with a diabetic baby, I rely on my senses alot with my diabetes and I trust my body to give me a clue as to whats going on. But a diabetic baby :( I dont know how anyone does it, it must be so hard. And if I gave birth to a non diabetic baby, I'd always be watching out for signs and symptoms as they grew up. I hope someone finds a cure sometime soon, not for my benefit but for all the people who haven't got it yet. I've got used to living with it and thats the hardest bit, I really don't want to see anyone else I know have to get used to it, especially any little ones.

I really admire all of you who have diabetic children.

[DeusXM]

We were told that there is a difference between being Japanese/American and being Japanese - Duh. Carlyes dad was exposed for 8.5 months, in vetro, to the elements, unknown, that put Asians at risk, we were told it is a combo of their environment: how they live, where they live, what they eat, their medical care, how they prepare thier foods - you get the picture.

Ok if you've evidence for this then fair enough, I was under the impression that T1 was a genetic condition, and unless you're living next to a nuclear reactor, environmental factors will not change your original genetic code. Certainly there may be a case that some lifestyles may promote T2 diabetes, given that this is predominantly caused by environmental factors (although not exclusively, before everyone starts jumping on me), but I find it very hard to believe that the simple act of living in Japan can change your genetic code and make you more likely to develop diabetes.

Everything I've seen so far that suggests a predisposition to diabetes in certain ethnic groups has been purely genetic - there was a thread here a while back that put forward a very cohesive theory explaining that populations that lived in Ice Age conditions were more disposed to T1 because it actualy assisted survival.

[camjen1]

Here you go Sandi; :) :) :) :)

Myyyyy graaaandmooother gooot tyyype ooooone aaaat aaaaaaage siiiixty, myyyyyy faaaaather gooooot tyyyype ooooooone aaaaaat aaaaage foooooorty, IIIIIIIIIII gooooot tyyyyyype ooooooone aaaaaaat aaaaaage tweeeeeeenty, mmmmyyyyyy ooooooolllldest dauauaugheeeer goooot tyyyyype oooooonnnneeee aaaaaat aaaaggee seeeeveeeen, myyyyyy Graaaaandmooooootheeeer waaaaaas theeeeeee ooooolllldesssssst ooooooof twoooooo, myyyyyyy faaaaaaatheeeeer waaaaas theeeeee oooollllldeeeeeest ooooof twooooooo, IIIIIIIIIIII hooooowwwweeeeeveeeeeer aaaaaaam theeeeeee yououououngeeeest oooooof seeeeeeveeeeen, myyyyyyy dauauauaughteeeeeeer iiiiiiis theeeee oooooooldeeeeeeest ooooooof twoooooooo, skiiiiiiiipiiiiing geeeeeeneeeeeraaaaaatioioions, iiiiiiiii thiiiiiink nooooot, ruuuuuuunniiiiiiing iiiiiiin theeeeeeee faaaaaamiiiiiilyyyyy, weeeeell IIIIIII queeeeeeessss sooooooo, thaaaaaaaat'sssss myyyyyyyy hiiiiiissstooooory. IIIIIII juuuuust hooooope foooooor aaaaaaa cuuuuure, meeeeeeeanwhiiiiiiile youuuuuuuuu liiiiiiiiive wiiiiiiiith iiiiiiiit theeeeeeee beeeeeeest youuuuuuuu caaaaaan.

Well I hope that helps Sandi :D :D ;) ;) And have a nice day.


LMBO...... Thanks Daddy! :D :)

[zookeeper671]

Ok if you've evidence for this then fair enough, I was under the impression that T1 was a genetic condition, and unless you're living next to a nuclear reactor, environmental factors will not change your original genetic code. Certainly there may be a case that some lifestyles may promote T2 diabetes, given that this is predominantly caused by environmental factors (although not exclusively, before everyone starts jumping on me), but I find it very hard to believe that the simple act of living in Japan can change your genetic code and make you more likely to develop diabetes.

Everything I've seen so far that suggests a predisposition to diabetes in certain ethnic groups has been purely genetic - there was a thread here a while back that put forward a very cohesive theory explaining that populations that lived in Ice Age conditions were more disposed to T1 because it actualy assisted survival.

From what I've read, I believe T1 to be genetic, as well. Environmental factors usually are related to T2.

[liz32]

Angie, what do you mean by "environmental"? Everything I've heard about T2 is that it is genetic predisposition. My birthmother had gestational diabetes and then went on to T2..(she was a skinny peson. 5ft tall, 90 lbs) and my birthfather was diabetic (not sure which) as were many in his family. I had gestational diabetes four years ago and here I am now. I was also told that if you give birth to a child weighing more than 9lbs then your chances are greater of developing T2. I worry about my kids developing it later in life due to my genetic history as well as my father in laws (T2). Does anyone know of any difinative studies on the topic? I'd love to have a read. I already teach my kids about the importance of eating healthy and excersizing so that they limit the outside influences. It may not stop it but hopefully it may slow it down.

[zookeeper671]

Sorry about that. Should have clarified. "Environmental factors"...usually... not exclusively. As in overweight, poor eating and exercising habits, etc. bringing on T2 in genetically predisposed individuals.

[duck]

Ok if you've evidence for this then fair enough, I was under the impression that T1 was a genetic condition, and unless you're living next to a nuclear reactor, environmental factors will not change your original genetic code. Certainly there may be a case that some lifestyles may promote T2 diabetes, given that this is predominantly caused by environmental factors (although not exclusively, before everyone starts jumping on me), but I find it very hard to believe that the simple act of living in Japan can change your genetic code and make you more likely to develop diabetes.

Everything I've seen so far that suggests a predisposition to diabetes in certain ethnic groups has been purely genetic - there was a thread here a while back that put forward a very cohesive theory explaining that populations that lived in Ice Age conditions were more disposed to T1 because it actualy assisted survival.

I lived in Korea for 8 years and still know A LOT of Koreans, and none of them are diabetic. BUT, Korean culture also treats any disease or chronic ailment as if you are less than human, so I can see how a diabetic Korean would not disclose such things.

I had NEVER heard that asians ran a higher risk, this is all new to me. Weird.

[christie]

Diabetes is in my family on my grandma's side, she had many brothers who had it,she even had a brother die from it before insulin was discovered. but no distant relatives,my dad did have t2 shortly before he passed away, but his lifestyle contribuated alot to that. i do occasionly check my kids sugars just to see,so far so good. but with life there are no guarantee's. i pray they never get this but i'm sure if my parents would have been forewarned i would get this i'm sure i would not have been born,so diabetes and all i've had a decent life,you just have to try to control the diabetes and not let it control you.

[am1977]

I believe I am the only one in my family with this disease (lucky me :rolleyes: )...at least no one in my immediate family has it. There were rumors that one of my great aunts might have had it as well, but no one can say for sure. Although, I would never wish Diabetes on anyone, sometime I think it would be a comfort to me to have someone close to me who knows and understands what I go through.

[CarlyesHope]

Ok if you've evidence for this then fair enough, I was under the impression that T1 was a genetic condition, and unless you're living next to a nuclear reactor, environmental factors will not change your original genetic code. Certainly there may be a case that some lifestyles may promote T2 diabetes, given that this is predominantly caused by environmental factors (although not exclusively, before everyone starts jumping on me), but I find it very hard to believe that the simple act of living in Japan can change your genetic code and make you more likely to develop diabetes.

Actually, and I just assumed this was true, we were told in the hospital that genetics played only a 5% role in the reasons a persons gets diabetes the rest was environmental, Carlye being part Japanese just help "boost" her to the top range of that 5%.

I'm not sure if my research is correct or not, I'm too new to diabetes to know, i'm just repeating info/garbage i've read/heard.

[jdstein11]

We do the same thing with our kids. They know that I check my sugar and take insulin and they know what it means when I am 'low'.

My 3yr old asks me when I am checking my sugar, 'Daddy, you checking your sugar?'

I sure hope & pray that they dont go through this either.
Yeah, my kids are already asking me why I'm "not taking 15 units this time". They're amazing.

As much as we try to support each other and help make having diabetes more manageable so we can live our lives as normally as possible, no one wants to see another have to suffer through the trials of living with our constant vigilance of watching blood glucose levels, especially our own children.

[DeusXM]

Actually, and I just assumed this was true, we were told in the hospital that genetics played only a 5% role in the reasons a persons gets diabetes the rest was environmental, Carlye being part Japanese just help "boost" her to the top range of that 5%.

In the overall scheme of things to do with diabetes, that's probably true, but remember that the vast majority of people with diabetes have T2, which is indeed only partially genetic. T1 is a genetically controlled condition, and if you have that unlucky gene combination you are almost guaranteed to develop T1. However the jury is still out on this one and it is believed that some individuals need a trigger to actually set off the procedure. Puberty is widely associated with this (indeed, most individuals who develop T1 do so between the ages of 8 and 15), however it is not exclusive.

Basically you cannot develop T1 without a root genetic cause, but you can develop T2 independently of genetics. However the more usual case is that T1 has an environmental trigger, and T2 usually has some form of genetic basis too.

If Carlye is ethnically part Japanese that that MAY have helped contribute to her diabetes but only in as much she'd have been genetically predisposed to developing the condition.

As a reference point, the ratio of T1:T2 is about 15:85.

[CarlyesHope]

In the overall scheme of things to do with diabetes, that's probably true, but remember that the vast majority of people with diabetes have T2, which is indeed only partially genetic. T1 is a genetically controlled condition, and if you have that unlucky gene combination you are almost guaranteed to develop T1. However the jury is still out on this one and it is believed that some individuals need a trigger to actually set off the procedure. Puberty is widely associated with this (indeed, most individuals who develop T1 do so between the ages of 8 and 15), however it is not exclusive.

Basically you cannot develop T1 without a root genetic cause, but you can develop T2 independently of genetics. However the more usual case is that T1 has an environmental trigger, and T2 usually has some form of genetic basis too.

If Carlye is ethnically part Japanese that that MAY have helped contribute to her diabetes but only in as much she'd have been genetically predisposed to developing the condition.

As a reference point, the ratio of T1:T2 is about 15:85.

Thats interesting, and enlightening, no one has ever really explained it that way, I guess i'm thinking about it in a different way, didn't know you couldn't develope it without a root genetic cause....

[duck]

Wow, this thread has me ****-bent on getting genetically tested to see if I was pre-disposed to this ****. What should I be looking for (if anyone knows)?

[JasonSmithMT]

From the ADA website:


The Genetics of Diabetes

You've probably wondered how you got diabetes. You may worry that your children will get it too.

Unlike some traits, diabetes does not seem to be inherited in a simple pattern. Yet clearly, some people are born more likely to get diabetes than others.

What leads to diabetes?

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have different causes. Yet two factors are important in both. First, you must inherit a predisposition to the disease. Second, something in your environment must trigger diabetes.

Genes alone are not enough. One proof of this is identical twins. Identical twins have identical genes. Yet when one twin has type 1 diabetes, the other gets the disease at most only half the time. When one twin has type 2 diabetes, the other's risk is at most 3 in 4.

Type 1 diabetes

In most cases of type 1 diabetes, people need to inherit risk factors from both parents. We think these factors must be more common in whites because whites have the highest rate of type 1 diabetes. Because most people who are at risk do not get diabetes, researchers want to find out what the environmental triggers are.

One trigger might be related to cold weather. Type 1 diabetes develops more often in winter than summer and is more common in places with cold climates. Another trigger might be viruses. Perhaps a virus that has only mild effects on most people triggers type 1 diabetes in others.

Early diet may also play a role. Type 1 diabetes is less common in people who were breastfed and in those who first ate solid foods at later ages.

In many people, the development of type 1 diabetes seems to take many years. In experiments that followed relatives of people with type 1 diabetes, researchers found that most of those who later got diabetes had certain autoantibodies in their blood for years before.

(Antibodies are proteins that destroy bacteria or viruses. Autoantibodies are antibodies 'gone bad,' which attack the body's own tissues.)

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes has a stronger genetic basis than type 1, yet it also depends more on environmental factors. Sound confusing? What happens is that a family history of type 2 diabetes is one of the strongest risk factors for getting the disease but it only seems to matter in people living a Western lifestyle.

Americans and Europeans eat too much fat and too little carbohydrate and fiber, and they get too little exercise. Type 2 diabetes is common in people with these habits. The ethnic groups in the United States with the highest risk are African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Pima Indians.

In contrast, people who live in areas that have not become Westernized tend not to get type 2 diabetes, no matter how high their genetic risk.

Obesity is a strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Obesity is most risky for young people and for people who have been obese for a long time.

Gestational diabetes is more of a puzzle. Women who get diabetes while they are pregnant are more likely to have a family history of diabetes, especially on their mothers' side. But as in other forms of diabetes, nongenetic factors play a role. Older mothers and overweight women are more likely to get gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes: your child's risk

In general, if you are a man with type 1 diabetes, the odds of your child getting diabetes are 1 in 17. If you are a woman with type 1 diabetes and your child was born before you were 25, your child's risk is 1 in 25; if your child was born after you turned 25, your child's risk is 1 in 100.

Your child's risk is doubled if you developed diabetes before age 11. If both you and your partner have type 1 diabetes, the risk is between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4.

There is an exception to these numbers. About 1 in every 7 people with type 1 diabetes has a condition called type 2 polyglandular autoimmune syndrome.

In addition to having diabetes, these people also have thyroid disease and a poorly working adrenal gland. Some also have other immune system disorders. If you have this syndrome, your child's risk of getting the syndrome including type 1 diabetes is 1 in 2.

Researchers are learning how to predict a person's odds of getting diabetes. For example, most whites with type 1 diabetes have genes called HLA-DR3 or HLA-DR4.

If you and your child are white and share these genes, your child's risk is higher. (Suspect genes in other ethnic groups are less well studied. The HLA-DR7 gene may put African Americans at risk, and the HLA-DR9 gene may put Japanese at risk.)

Other tests can also make your child's risk clearer. A special test that tells how the body responds to glucose can tell which school-aged children are most at risk.

Another more expensive test can be done for children who have siblings with type 1 diabetes. This test measures antibodies to insulin, to islet cells in the pancreas, or to an enzyme called glutamic acid decarboxylase. High levels can indicate that a child has a higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes: your child's risk

Type 2 diabetes runs in families. In part, this tendency is due to children learning bad habits eating a poor diet, not exercising--from their parents. But there is also a genetic basis.

In general, if you have type 2 diabetes, the risk of your child getting diabetes is 1 in 7 if you were diagnosed before age 50 and 1 in 13 if you were diagnosed after age 50.

Some scientists believe that a child's risk is greater when the parent with type 2 diabetes is the mother. If both you and your partner have type 2 diabetes, your child's risk is about 1 in 2.

People with certain rare types of type 2 diabetes have different risks. If you have the rare form called maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), your child has almost a 1-in-2 chance of getting it, too.

More Information on Genetics

If you would like to learn more about the genetics of all forms of diabetes, the National Institutes of Health has recently published The Genetic Landscape of Diabetes. This free online book provides an overview of the current knowledge about the genetics of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well other less common forms of diabetes. The book is written for health professionals and for people with diabetes interested in learning more about the disease.

Source: http://www.diabetes.org/genetics.jsp


Sorry for the long quote but I think the ADA does a good job explaining this (without getting too deep into genetics) and it will answer a lot of the questions and misconceptions floating around.

Jason

[jdstein11]

Thanks, Jason; good info

[duck]

I've already contacted a few places...let y'all know what I find out.

[JasonSmithMT]

Wow, this thread has me ****-bent on getting genetically tested to see if I was pre-disposed to this ****. What should I be looking for (if anyone knows)?

Duck - I know you can test to see which form of the HLA proteins are present. If I remeber correctly this is very expensive. I'm curious on what you hope to get out of it. If you are type 1 then the most common theory right now is ... Yes ... you were genetically predisposed for diabetes.

They do sometimes do HLA genotyping (along with standard antibody testing) for kids who are at high risk but its utility is questionable at best outside of the research arena. Even if they do find the high risk HLA types (DR3 and DR4) there is nothing currently that can be done about it. What is interesting is that types you have can sometimes give insight into the when diabetes presents. See Genes Can Cause Type 1 Diabetes (http://www.genetichealth.com/DBTS_Genetics_of_Type_1_Diabetes.shtml) for some really interesting info on this.

Jason

[duck]

Jason,

I have a kid, and for reasons and sentiments expressed in this thread, I worry. I'm curious to know what this testing would cost...The ADA article you posted is typical of many articles I have read--all sorts of detail on what is needed, but not how to test and who to contact to test. It may be cost-prohibitive, and it may be counter-productive inasmuch as what would you do if you knew? Still, I wonder...and worry.

[JasonSmithMT]

Jason,

I have a kid, and for reasons and sentiments expressed in this thread, I worry. I'm curious to know what this testing would cost...The ADA article you posted is typical of many articles I have read--all sorts of detail on what is needed, but not how to test and who to contact to test. It may be cost-prohibitive, and it may be counter-productive inasmuch as what would you do if you knew? Still, I wonder...and worry.

Unfortunately I don't have a clue what it cost. If you really want it the place to start would be to talk to your or your kids’ physician and ask for them to order a HLA-DR typing. The doctor's office can work with the lab where they send tests off to to find a place that does it.

If you are wanting to take a more proactive approach to monitoring your kid for early signs of diabetes a more traditional approach is to watch GAD antibodies and insulin levels.

A good physician should be willing to discuss and explore what opitions you have.

Jason

[CarlyesHope]

Interesting stuff Jason, It also explains why my daughters doctors had such a great interest with my sporatic hypo thyroidism - - if I read it correctly thyroid issues play a role too.

The enviro issues are scary for me, a little less than 3 years ago we bought a house that backed a "power line field" you know bunches of high powered lines on towers. I thought it was the cause and blamed myself for moving here. I still do.

[duck]

Unfortunately I don't have a clue what it cost. If you really want it the place to start would be to talk to your or your kids’ physician and ask for them to order a HLA-DR typing. The doctor's office can work with the lab where they send tests off to to find a place that does it.

If you are wanting to take a more proactive approach to monitoring your kid for early signs of diabetes a more traditional approach is to watch GAD antibodies and insulin levels.

A good physician should be willing to discuss and explore what opitions you have.

Jason

I was talking to my wife about this and she said she would ask our new pediatrician about it at the next appointment--but then she reminded me one of the reasons we ditched the last one was because her response when asked about potential for diabetes was "well, kids can't get diabetes before the age of 5 anyway..." I forgot all about that; weird because my wife knew as soon as she said it that duck had already decided we needed another pediatrician...

Interesting stuff Jason, It also explains why my daughters doctors had such a great interest with my sporatic hypo thyroidism - - if I read it correctly thyroid issues play a role too.

The enviro issues are scary for me, a little less than 3 years ago we bought a house that backed a "power line field" you know bunches of high powered lines on towers. I thought it was the cause and blamed myself for moving here. I still do.

I don't trust those things either Kelly. But you'll get all sorts of experts who will tell you they are sooooo safe. None of these experts live near one of these things, but that's besides the point.

[CarlyesHope]

I don't trust those things either Kelly. But you'll get all sorts of experts who will tell you they are sooooo safe. None of these experts live near one of these things, but that's besides the point.

HEY!!!! your not supposed to make me feel worse for living by the wires... your supposed to say, oh there safe, don't worry!!!

Actually, before we moved in, we had a company come out and test to see where electrical current registered and it wasn't until you were almost under the lines, so in truth, i'm not worried about being in my house or yard, and I don't make a habit of letting my children play under the lines, but i do let them walk under them to cross the field to - - get to the other side - - to get to the stores or to walk the dogs....

there are thousands of people that line these wires, and our township doesn't have any record of high birth defects, deaths, wierd illness, high cancer rates or any of that, and the people on my street that line the wires have all been here 20 or more years and are in great health... good sign i guess.

[Mick]

Excellent and interesting thread here! I am the only diabetic in a very large extended family--By blood, I have 3 siblings, 6 nieces and nephews, 9 aunts and uncles, 16 first cousins and 28 second cousins. Not one single diabetic except me. We adopted our 2 children--one Korean and one Vietnamese. BTW--I'd NEVER heard about this supposed Asian diabetes connection... However, one of the reasons my wife and I gave up very early on fertility treatments and went directly to adoption is, at the time (24 years ago), not only was fertility treatment very primitive and pretty unsuccessful, but we were worried about passing on diabetes to our children--at the time my wife and I were trying to get pregnant, they were telling us that we had a 1 in 4 chance of passing it on to any kids we had. It has obviously turned out to be more complex a genetic equation than that, and we had a much better chance for non-diabetic kids than we ever thought. Still, we ended up raising the children we were supposed to, so everything worked out for the best.

Michael

[duck]

Excellent and interesting thread here! I am the only diabetic in a very large extended family--By blood, I have 3 siblings, 6 nieces and nephews, 9 aunts and uncles, 16 first cousins and 28 second cousins. Not one single diabetic except me. We adopted our 2 children--one Korean and one Vietnamese. BTW--I'd NEVER heard about this supposed Asian diabetes connection... However, one of the reasons my wife and I gave up very early on fertility treatments and went directly to adoption is, at the time (24 years ago), not only was fertility treatment very primitive and pretty unsuccessful, but we were worried about passing on diabetes to our children--at the time my wife and I were trying to get pregnant, they were telling us that we had a 1 in 4 chance of passing it on to any kids we had. It has obviously turned out to be more complex a genetic equation than that, and we had a much better chance for non-diabetic kids than we ever thought. Still, we ended up raising the children we were supposed to, so everything worked out for the best.

Michael

I'm an anomoly myself, Mick...No one who preceded me or any of my siblings (cousins, second cousins, etc.) have had diabetes. My grandad supposedly had it before he died, but he was so sick with so many things that truth is if his pancreas failed on him, that couldn't be much worse than any other other major organ failing inside of him. I still maintain I got diabetes because I caught a cold that triggered an autoimmune response that killed my islet cells. **** immune sytem--bad immune! Bad immune!

[Clint]

the only other people in my family that had diabetes were my moms parents. Other than them, I am the only one. At least I am the only one alive...

[jdstein11]

My maternal grandfather was diagnosed later in life, but he was overweight for years and could take pills to control it; I'm a T1 and never had anything stronger than the flu, and even that I've never had for longer than 24 hours in my life; I'm 33.

[Del]

I have a pretty extended family on my mother's side and there is no one going back 3 generations with type 1. My dad's side is "clean" as well going back at least to his grandparents.




I still maintain I got diabetes because I caught a cold that triggered an autoimmune response that killed my islet cells. **** immune sytem--bad immune! Bad immune!



Last October I was pretty much bedridden for 2 days due to some sort of flu-like illness, something that had never happened before. I had always been able to push myself to function no matter what sort of cold or flu I had (and even that was pretty seldom). I especially remember this episode because I had chills for the first time in my life and I couldn't even hold a glass of water the shakes were so bad. I was diagnosed thereafter in April after a routine physical. I felt fine but I bet this is what helped trigger my immune system. Was also under a helluva lot of stress at work AND had a vitamin D deficiency. I hope and pray the planets don't line up like that with my kids if indeed all of this is what caused me to get it.

[CarlyesHope]

BTW--I'd NEVER heard about this supposed Asian diabetes connection...
Michael

Isn't that funny, that was one of the very first things they told us.

[DeusXM]

It actually depends on what they mean by 'Asian'. In the UK, 'Asian' means what you guys would probably call Indian or Pakistani, and those individuals are certainly far more likely to develop T2 than whites. However, the general thinking also runs that non-white ethnic minorities are more predisposed to diabetes than whites in general - every source I've ever read on this always features different ethnic groups as being 'at risk' and they're always ethnic groups that are non-white, non-European. Collectively almost everyone agrees that native Americans, Afro-Carribeans, Indians and Pakistanis are predisposed to T2 diabetes, and various other sources will suggest equally pretty much any other group.

However, all of this is largely immaterial, because knowing this sort of stuff isn't really going to influence diabetes in terms of a genetic legacy anyway - all it means is that certain groups should probably pay more attention to possible symptoms.

[KickStart101]

Well, aside from the "I THINK" your Great Great Grandpa who came to Canada in the early 1800's who MAY have had Diabetes on your Dad's side
or the "I'm thinking MAYBE your Great-Aunt had Diabetes...not sure.....seems
to me both would have been Type 2 if they even had it. We had the "cluster"
out of no where, me and my 2 brothers out of 4 kids(one a twin), my cousin's 3 boys from my Dad's side or from the other Grandparent side we never knew them. My Dad's side do only have Type 2 over 50, over-weight.
My Mom's Brother's Daughter is Type 1 young (but that could have come from his wife's family(they are very tight-lipped), From my cousin Type 1 just mentioned, her sister had a girl and boy, the girl is Type 1. But it may have come from their Mother's family or the last girl from her Fathers side(my cousins Hubby...he is Pakistani...I'm just stating it as it is....Idon't think Pakistani are any more to get it than others. I've never heard of them having Diabetes. So Diabetes is somewhat shrouded or unknown in our lot. I think...
no you want to know what I think! :D

[soremom]

Duck, I discussed having my boys tested to see if they carry the gene that can cause diabetes with my husband. We decided not to have them tested. We are afraid if it comes back yes they could develop it, that it could come back and bite them in the a** for health and life insurance later in life. Not sure if it would but don't want to take any chances with that. We know the symptoms and keep a good eye on the boys, I went through a scare with my youngest, and if I notice a problem, I take them to the doctor. Though know thinking of that, the testing may be with them for awhile, not sure how that works.

As for becoming pregnant while diabetic, I did with my youngest. I had gestation with my first which brought out the diabetes (T1). It took me along time to consider having a number but we decide I could do it. It was a lot of work but so worth it. You don't know what is going to happen later in life, whether it will cause problems for you or not. But then you can have problems later without becoming pregnant. If you want to have a baby, get everything under control now, talk to your doctor before hand and go from there. My youngest is now 4 and a ball of energy. I have had no problems as of now and neither have either of my boys.

Kim

[middnite03]

after reading all this i feel like the odd man out..

lets see a family history.

my mother has type2, my father had type 2, my aunt, uncle and 2 cousins on my faothers side are type 1, my grandmother on my mothers side was type 2, and I have 2 brother that are type 1...

it seems that diabetes just wants to pick on my family for no good reason :s:

[Lee73]

Hi all,

Very interesting topic....thanks for the info Jason.

My dad was diagnosed with adult onset type 1 diabetes in his early thirties (ugh, right around the age I am now). My younger sister was diagnosed type 1 at age nine. So far, we have had no other occurances of diabetes in our immediate or extended family (not type 1 or 2). The day my sister was diagnosed was the only time I have seen my father cry. For some reason my parents thought that diabetes skipped a generation....they wracked their brains and memeories for anyone on both my Mom's side and my Dad's side (a generation before them) who might have had diabetes....but came up with no one. Quite likely if there was anyone who did have diabetes, they proabably didn't have a proper diagnosis and if they did, they stayed in the closet about it.

Also interesting is that my sister who is type 1 was always the one to get every sickness. Growing up she was always sick, she was allergic to everything and when she was finally diagnosed it came on the crest of a virus-like sickness that knocked her out completely. Still, her diagnosis was a big shock and a huge wake up call. Suddenly, we all felt vulnerable.

Speaking of that....I think I will test my BG next time I am home.

Oh...maybe someone can comment on this....my type 1 sister, before she was diagnosed drank alot of milk...but I mean tons. She was more thirsty than usual right before her diagnosis and drank whatever she could, but since she was a toddler she drank tons of milk...she would drink our glasses when we weren't looking (which was fine for me because I have always HATED milk). I recall reading somewhere (maybe just garbage, but maybe not) that there was a connection to type 1 and juvenile onset and milk. Has anyone else heard this?

[KickStart101]

No Lee, I haven't heard of the milk theory. Virus, envronmental, hereditary theories, yes. Little kids do drink some liquids, some a bit more than others, but not that it is so noticeable or continuous. I watched my two Kids plus I looked after 3 others all week for yrs. plus 2 others occasionally. They did not consume liquids that were out of control. But
everyone is different. :)

[duck]

There are many sites that bellow about the evils of bovine milk...Frankly it's an issue I have not done any research into, since I have enough conspiracy theories of my own at this time anyway.

Kim, thanks for that. My wife and I came to just about the same conclusion--what good would knowing really create for us? sigh

[KickStart101]

Oops Del: I forgot to mention(I'm knocking on wood)that none of my Kids or my Brothers Kids(ages 10, 19, 22, 23, 26, and my Sisters(who is not Diabetic)Kids 31 35 are without Diabetes My oldest Brother Type 1, didn't have any. But it is just a turn of the gene wheel 'til we know what we end up with, sometimes. Thank God. :)

[Del]

I also drank tons of milk when I was a kid. Virtually none of my baby teeth came out on their own- had to be pulled. Dentist thought it was partly because of all the calcium I was getting.

It would seem unlikely though that this came back to haunt me 25 years later in the form of diabetes but who knows.