Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, but which type of diabetes is hereditary – type 1 or type 2? The answer is both of them. In the early 90’s, a study showed that more than 80% of diabetics have at least one family member with the disease. The underlying cause of diabetes is indeed hereditary genetic diabetes, or it has to do with diabetes recessive trait from both parents but that’s not the whole story.
Nowadays, this medical condition is considered one of many lifestyle diseases. True enough, it can be caused by lifestyle factors like diet, obesity and physical inactivity. Hence, even if a person has the defective chromosome, it will only manifest when other factors play their part.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a set of related diseases that are characterized by the body’s inability to regulate the amount of glucose in the blood. Glucose is a simple sugar and an important carbohydrate. Everyone needs carbohydrates to grow and get enough energy to go through the day.
Glucose cannot enter the body’s cells without insulin. Insulin is the hormone naturally produced by the pancreas. After food digestion, glucose goes to the bloodstream. Afterwards, insulin moves them from the blood to the other cells. In effect, this hormone lowers the level of sugar in the blood.
People suffering from diabetes have elevated levels of glucose in the blood. Why? It can be because their bodies cannot produce enough insulin or cells fail to respond to insulin. Either condition is considered diabetes type 2. Diabetes type 1 is a condition wherein their bodies do not produce insulin at all. Regardless of which type of diabetes is hereditary, all diabetics have high levels of glucose in their blood.
Which Type of Diabetes is Hereditary and What Causes it?
Now that one knows which type of diabetes is hereditary, it is time to understand what other factors contribute to this lifelong disease. Aside from the factors mentioned above, this medical condition can also be caused by stress and other reasons.
Hormonal imbalance can cause it. There are actually hormones in the body that counteract the effects of insulin. These tend to increase the level of sugar in the blood rather than lower it. High levels of hormones like glucagon, cortisone, adrenaline and thyroxine can reduce the efficiency of insulin.
It can also be caused by drug side effect, viral infection and psychological factors. The hormone cortisone is related to stress and sleep. Higher levels of this hormone are found in people who do not get enough sleep.
If several of these factors are involved, it doesn’t matter which type of diabetes is hereditary. A person will just get it.
Which Type of Diabetes is Hereditary and How is it treated?
Once a person gets this medical condition, there is no turning back. Those suffering from type 1 and type 2 will have it for the rest of their lives. “Which type of diabetes is hereditary” becomes irrelevant. However, there are treatments that make it possible for diabetics to lead normal lives.
Insulin shots have been around since 1921. Those with type 1 will have to regularly inject insulin. In addition, adequate exercise and strict diets are necessary.
There are people with type 2 who can do without insulin shots. Through a special diet, oral medication and exercise, they can live with their diabetes. In some cases, however, insulin injections may still be needed.
If untreated, this medical condition can lead to more serious complications like hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis and nonketotic hypersosmolar coma. No matter which type of diabetes is hereditary, it must be treated.