Contents:
- Medical Video: Diabetes Symptoms & Treatments : How Is Diabetes Inherited?
- Genetic factors and causes of type 2 diabetes
- Genetic mutation
- Lifestyle and family derivatives
- What genes are responsible for the emergence of type 2 diabetes?
- What are the tests for type 2 diabetes?
- So, what causes type 2 diabetes?
Medical Video: Diabetes Symptoms & Treatments : How Is Diabetes Inherited?
There are several factors that can be the cause of type 2 diabetes, from lifestyle and eating patterns. However, many think that type 2 diabetes is caused by hereditary factors. So, is it true that one of the causes of type 2 diabetes is descent from parents?
Genetic factors and causes of type 2 diabetes
If you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, try looking at your family's health history. In fact, heredity can be one of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
According to the American Diabetes Association, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in people who:
- 1 in 7 people are at risk of developing diabetes, if one of their parents is diagnosed before the age of 50 years
- 1 in 13 people are at risk of developing diabetes, if one of their parents is diagnosed after age 50
- 1 in 2 people get diabetes, if both parents have diabetes
However not all causes of type 2 diabetes are genetic factors. The main risk factors for type 2 diabetes are obesity and a bad lifestyle.Some gene mutations have been touted as a risk trigger for type 2 diabetes.
However, none of these genes cause diabetes by itself. Instead, they interact with other factors, for example, poisons, viruses, and foods that can increase your risk of developing diabetes.
Genetic mutation
Researchers have linked several gene mutations to a higher risk of diabetes. Not all mutation carriers will get diabetes. However, many people with diabetes have one or more of these mutations.
Lifestyle and family derivatives
It will be difficult to separate lifestyle risk from genetic risk. Lifestyle choices tend to be influenced also in the family. Passive parents, like being lazy to exercise for example, tend to have passive children too.
Parents with unhealthy diets are likely to reduce it to the next generation. On the other hand, genetics has a big role in determining body weight.
What genes are responsible for the emergence of type 2 diabetes?
The American Diabetes Association study found a gene in twins that showed type 2 diabetes. But this study was debated because of environmental influences that also affected the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Until now, many gene mutations have been shown to affect the risk of type 2 diabetes. The contribution of each gene in general is indeed small. However, each gene mutation can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes
In general, there are several mutations in the genes that control your diabetes risk:
- glucose production
- insulin production
- how the glucose level is felt by the body
- insulin regulation
The genes associated with type 2 diabetes include:
- TCF7L2, a gene that affects insulin secretion and glucose production
- sulfonylurea urea receptor (ABCC8), a gene that helps regulate insulin
- calpain 10, a gene associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes in Mexican-Americans
- glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), which helps glucose move to the pancreas
- glucagon receptor (GCGR), the glucagon hormone involved in glucose regulation
What are the tests for type 2 diabetes?
There are several genetic tests that can be done to detect the symptoms of type 2 diabetes in your body. However, the increased risk for gene mutations is small. Other factors are far more accurate in predicting the emergence of type 2 diabetes, including those seen from:
- body mass index (BMI)
- family history
- high blood pressure
- increase in triglycerides and cholesterol levels
- history gestational diabetes
So, what causes type 2 diabetes?
The interaction between genetic and environmental factors can make the body more difficult to control the real cause of type 2 diabetes. But that does not mean you cannot reduce risk.
There is strong evidence to support the fact that lifestyle changes can reduce the development of type 2 diabetes.
Health experts also often recommend weight loss and increase physical activity to prevent type 2 diabetes. Keeping blood sugar levels at normal levels can also prevent you from developing diabetes.
