Can I Pass Diabetes to My Children?

Diabetes isn’t a genetic disorder like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell disease. But you can pass a genetic predisposition for diabetes to your children, increasing their risk of developing the disease. The likelihood of you passing diabetes to your children depends on a few factors, and a predisposition doesn’t mean they're destined to get diabetes. 

At East Side Primary Medical Care on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, our experienced primary care physician, Dr. Daniel Klein, specializes in diagnosing and treating diabetes.

In this month’s blog post we want to talk about diabetes, the genetic link, and the environmental factors that can trigger the disease.

About diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that causes too much sugar (glucose) in the blood. The sugar comes from the food you eat and provides energy for all the cells in your body. The sugar needs insulin, a hormone made in the pancreas, to move from the blood and into the cell.

People develop diabetes because of problems with insulin. They either don’t make enough insulin (Type 1 diabetes) or the insulin can’t effectively do its job (Type 2 diabetes). 

Type 1 diabetes often appears during childhood or adolescence, and Type 2 diabetes usually appears during adulthood but can occur during adolescence or early adulthood. Type 2 diabetes is more common than Type 1, but genetics plays a role in the development of both. 

Genes and diabetes

Your child is more likely to develop diabetes if it runs in your family. 

With Type 1 diabetes, your child needs to inherit the genetic predisposition for the type from both parents. But not all children who inherit both genes develop diabetes. Though researchers are still looking into the causes of Type 1 diabetes, they theorize that an environmental factor, like an infection or cold weather, triggers the gene and onset of disease.

The genetic link for Type 2 diabetes is stronger than Type 1. Your child is more likely to develop this type of diabetes if one or both parents have the disease. But, lifestyle choices are the main trigger for Type 2 diabetes.

Protecting your child’s health

While you can’t directly pass diabetes to your child, knowing that it runs in your family can help you take the steps necessary to protect your child’s health. 

Researchers are currently looking for a way to prevent the onset of Type 1 diabetes. Unfortunately, you don’t have much control over whether your child develops Type 1 diabetes or not if they have the genetic predisposition for it. If you suspect your child has Type 1 diabetes, schedule an appointment with their pediatrician right away. 

Your child’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes has a lot to do with the habits they learn from you. Making lifestyle changes like getting regular exercising, eating a balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy weight may reduce your child’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. 

Signs and symptoms of diabetes include:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Need to urinate frequently 
• Excessive thirst and hunger
• Fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Tingling sensations in the hands or feet

The symptoms of Type 1 diabetes are severe and develop quickly, making them easier to spot. With Type 2 diabetes, the symptoms are less obvious and can go unnoticed for months or years. 

If diabetes runs in your family and you want to protect your child’s health, we can help. Dr. Klein takes a preventive approach to patient care, providing all the tools you need to improve your family’s health.

Call today at 680-206-2794 or book an appointment online. We offer telemedicine appointments and concierge primary care for patients who need regular access to the doctor to manage their health.