Is Type Two

Diabetes
hereditary or not?
By
Altheia Jackson
 Genetics Play a Role in Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes has several causes: genetics

and lifestyle are the most important ones. A
combination of these factors can cause insulin
resistance, when your body doesn’t use insulin
as well as it should. Insulin resistance is the
most common cause of type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes can be hereditary. That doesn’t

mean that if your mother or father has (or had)

Genetics type 2 diabetes, you’re guaranteed to develop

it; instead, it means that you have a greater
chance of developing type 2.
 
Researchers know that you can inherit a risk for
type 2 diabetes, but it’s difficult to pinpoint
which genes carry the risk. The medical
community is hard at work trying to figure out
the certain genetic mutations that lead to a risk
of type 2, according to Hess-Fischl and Leontis.
 
Genetics

Genetics plays a role in determining how likely you are to develop some type of diabetes. Researchers don’t fully understand the role
of genetics in the development of diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, statistics show that if you have a parent
or sibling with diabetes, your odds of developing it yourself increase.

Although research is not conclusive, some ethnic groups seem to have a higher rate of diabetes. This is true for:

• African-Americans
• Native Americans
• Asians
• Pacific Islanders
• Hispanic Americans, according to Dr. Weatherspoon.
 Family Members with Diabetes

FAMILY MEMBERS WITH DIABETES

Names Year of Diabetes Medication Taken Types
Mike Nash 1997 Medform 1
Rochelle Nash 1981 The Pen 2 Diabetes Chart
James Williams 1999 The Pen 2 2030
Kenneth Williams 1999 The Pen 2
2020
Antonio Mason 2000 Tradjenta 1
Mamie Jackson 1993 The Pen 2 2010
Janet Jackson 2000 Tradjenta 1
2000
Rhoda Mason 2012 Tradjenta 1
Lisa Jackson 2020 The Pen 2 1990

Altheia Jackson 2019 Tradjenta 1

1980

1970

1960
Mike Rochelle James Kenneth Antonio Mamie Janet Rhoda Lisa Altheia
Nash Nash Williams Williams Mason Jackson Jackson Mason Jackson Jackson

Year of Diabetes Medication Taken Types

 When you have type 2 diabetes, your body
has trouble using or making enough
insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps the
sugar from your food enter your cells. It’s
something everyone needs and, for most
What diabetes people, the body naturally makes enough.
But if you have type 2 diabetes, your body
does to your might not use the insulin you make
body efficiently. Sugar (or glucose) cannot enter
the cells to be used for energy. Instead, it
builds up in your bloodstream, causing
high blood sugar. Trulicity

Look below at the damage diabetes does

to the body.
Why my
family has
diabetes

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

I believe it is poor eating
habits contributing to Diabetes
After reading and talking with family members, diabetes surged in my
family after our 30s, 40s, and 50 years of age.
We ate good under our parents and grandparents. Good eating to us
meant vegetables (greens); meats (chicken, liver, turkey, beef, and
pork); potatoes (sweet and Idaho); breads (biscuits, white bread (as
there was no wheat bread back in the day), cornbread, muffins, etc.),
and deserts (pies, cakes, cookie, etc.)
When I began cooking for myself, I changed a lot of the ingredients. I
worked out, still smoked, and maintain doctor visits. Still diabetes
was not detected.
Recognizing that the medical field has come a long way, diabetes
continues to confuse me, but I still take my medications just in case.
However, after we became adults, some drank, ate fatty foods,
smoking, and experienced social issues in our lives. These too are
contributing characteristics of diabetes.
 None of my elders died or ever had
conversations about diabetes. However,
information tells me that if they had diabetes,
I have a likely chance of getting it.
Questions How is that my family ancestry does not
include diabetes, but our family still get it?
Unanswered And, there are other members in my family
who did not get diabetes at all.
The information of hereditary diabetes is
inconclusive and hope that my questions can
be answered in another study.
How to • Since we are aware of this disease, there are some

take care
things one must do to get rid or manage diabetes
in our family.

of your • Exercise
• Stop Smoking and drinking
body with • Eat proper foods

Diabetes
 References
1. Hess-Fischl, Amy. MS, RD., LDN., BC-ANP-C and Leontis, M. Lisa, RN., ANP-C. Genetics and Lifestyle Choices
Play a Role.
2. https://www.trulicity.com/type-2-diabetes?utm source=goggle&utm
medium=ppc&campaign=10909100551&adgroup=104561147702&ad=497953937943&utm keyword=kwd-
11389261&
3. Weatherspoon, Deborah, Ph.D., R.N., CRNA. Diabetes Causes. October 1, 2019.