If One of My Parents Had Diabetes, Will I?

If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with diabetes, you may be wondering if it is hereditary. There are several forms of this condition, each with its own set of risk factors that contribute to the disease's development. If you have a diabetic father, mother, brother, or sister, you are more likely to have the disease than someone who does not. Although, diabetes is not only driven by genetics, and having a relative with the condition does not guarantee that you will develop it. In certain cases, such as type 2 diabetes, lifestyle factors play a role, and early detection can prevent or postpone disease progression. Identifying genes may also aid researchers and clinicians in predicting this condition's diagnoses and developing tailored treatment strategies that are ideal for glucose management and disease progression. Learn more about the impact of genetics on this condition's development, screening, activities you may take to avoid or postpone specific forms of this condition, and how environmental factors may play a role in different types of it.