"this disease is transmitted as a recessive genetic characteristic."
Type 2 diabetes and genetics
Key points
- 1,If both of your parents have type 2 diabetes, you have a 50 percent chance of developing the disease.,
- 2,Having a hereditary risk doesn’t mean you’ll definitely develop the condition.
Diabetes is a complex condition. Several factors must come together for you to develop type 2 diabetes. For example, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle play a role. Genetics can also influence whether you’ll get this disease.
If you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, there’s a good chance that you’re not the first person with diabetes in your family. According to theAmerican Diabetes Association, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is:
- 1 in 7 if one of your parents was diagnosed before the age of 50
- 1 in 13 if one of your parents was diagnosed after the age of 50
- 1 in 2, or 50 percent, if both your parents have diabetes
In general, mutations in any gene involved in controlling glucose levelscan increase your risk of type 2 diabetes. These include genes that control:
- production of glucose
- production and regulation of insulin
- how glucose levels are sensed in the body
Genes associated with type 2 diabetes risk include:
- TCF7L2, which affects insulin secretion and glucose production
- ABCC8, which helps regulate insulin
- CAPN10, which is associated with type 2 diabetes risk in Mexican-Americans
- GLUT2, which helps move glucose into the pancreas
- GCGR, a glucagon hormone involved in glucose regulation