Is diabetes hereditary or can you get it just by being overweight? I know a few people that are overweight and they were told by their doctors that if they did not lose weight they would get diabetes. I thought it was always hereditary?

I don't know that it is always hereditary but I do know that if anyone in your family is diabetic and you carry weight that you are something like 100 times more likely to develop diabetes.


justagirl

There are different types, but as I understand it, because of our diet and lifestyles we are, in some cases, prompting diabetes in later life.

Being overweight is contributory and so losing that weight is obviously going to help stabilize the condition.

it's not always hereditary - that's the problem with the obesity spiralling out of control in the First World countries; you've got people developing diabetes who have no trace of it in their families.

it's most dangerous for kids - juvenile diabetes is jumping by leaps and bounds.

My grandma was a diabetic and as far as I know she was the only one in our family that had it. She was not overweight either?

There are a couple of main types of diabetes, Snowflake.

Type 1 ususally develops in younger people and Type 2 in the older age group ( I think over 40.) You don't have to be overweight to get it, but it is a major contributory factor.

I think over 90% of people with diabetes fall into Type 2 category.

There are also a few other kinds that are linked with pregnancy and other illnesses.

Type two diabetes (also called maturity onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes) may be triggered by lifestyle factors like a lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet, which lead to obesity. There is also evidence that it may run in families too. It usually develops later in life, but with current lifestyle changes, we are starting to see more of it in younger adults and children. Children and young adults who are overweight and inactive are particularly at risk. The good news it that there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of developing diabetes type two. The first thing is to make sure you are including as much activity in your day as possible. Simply walking for 30 minutes or more each day helps. Take the opportunity to move whenever possible. Walk up the stairs instead of taking the lift. Walk to the shops, get off the bus one stop away from your destination. It all adds up. Healthy eating is also important. Keeping your weight within a normal range lowers your risk of diabetes.

Yes, diabetes may be hereditary. Type-1 diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile onset DM may or may not be hereditary. There is only about 5% chance that a child of a type-1 diabetic will inherit it. Obesity or being overweight is a risk factor for developing type-2 diabetes or non-insulin dependent DM (NIDDM).

So, basically what you are saying is that there can be a pre-disposition towards it, and anyone who has it in their family history should be on the lookout and try to manage their health just in case?

basically - to be fair, with the explosion of obesity in this country it can't hurt to cut back on the sweets for EVERYONE!