Under the term “diabetes mellitus” coined by the physician Areteo of Cappadocia (80-138 AD) and meaning “to run through,” a group of metabolic diseases is encompassed, whose common link is hyperglycemia due to defects in insulin production or response.
According to WHO data, diabetes affects more than 460 million people worldwide, being one of the major health problems that has been increasing in recent years.
The main symptoms of diabetes follow what is known as the “rule of 3 Ps,” consisting of polyuria (excessive urination), polyphagia (increased appetite), and polydipsia (increased thirst). This, combined with the presence of elevated blood glucose levels, allows for a rapid diagnosis of the condition, which is associated with the onset of complications such as vision loss, nephropathy, blood vessel damage, or cardiac problems, among many others.
What are the factors that cause diabetes?
Within the group of diabetic diseases, three main types are included, with different origins:
Type 1 diabetes or juvenile diabetes
It is autoimmune in nature and originates from the absence of insulin production. The trigger of the disease is unknown, but among the described risk factors are virus infections, celiac disease, and genetic factors.
Type 2 diabete
Represents more than 90% of diabetes cases and is characterized by insulin resistance. It usually appears after the age of 40 and is associated with family history of the disease, obesity or overweight, hypertension, lack of physical activity, and an unhealthy diet.
Gestational diabetes
It is diabetes that appears during pregnancy in women without a previous diagnosis. It is the only potentially reversible form and is due to metabolic changes associated with pregnancy. Once again, family history and overweight have been associated with increased risk.
BUT, IS DIABETES HEREDITARY?
One of the big questions about the disease is whether it can be passed from parents to children, or if there is a genetic predisposition to diabetes. Diabetes is a complex disease involving both environmental and genetic factors in its development. Therefore, it is not directly inherited from parents to children, but the likelihood of presenting it is inherited.
The heritability varies depending on the type of diabetes. For example, studies in twins have shown that the probability of developing type 1 diabetes, if one of the siblings is affected, is 50%, a percentage that increases to 80% in the case of type 2 diabetes. However, although genetics play a very important role, controlling associated environmental factors can help prevent the development of the disease to a large extent. Therefore, knowing our genetic predisposition through the use of DNA tests such as the tellmeGen Advanced DNA kit can be very useful.
