Diabetes | What are the chances of you being Diabetic if your parents have Diabetes

Diabetes

With its increasing number every day, Diabetes has become a household name these days. It is a chronic disease where the Pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin or the body can’t utilize the produced insulin for its use. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose in the body which is highly necessary for the body. To know more about Diabetes, its types, symptoms, and treatment, let’s hear it from Dr. Abhaya Sahoo(renowned Endocrinologist).

TYPES 

There are 4 types of diabetes –

1. Type 1
2. Type 2
3. Gestational Diabetes- Diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy
4. Secondary Diabetes

Broadly it is classified as Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Out of which the majority fall under Type 2 Diabetes. Amongst all the diabetic people,

Type 1 consists of 3-4%

Type 2 consists of 85- 90%

Rest all are Gestational and Secondary Diabetes

Difference between Types of Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes is genetically inherited. If the mother is Diabetic then the child has a 50% probability, if the father is Diabetic then the child has a 60% chance and if both the parents are diabetic then a 99.9% probability is there.

Type 1 Diabetes is an auto-immune disease where the Beta cells in the Pancreas get damaged and can’t produce insulin. When more than 90% of the Beta cells get damaged then Type 1 Diabetes happens. This is classically seen in small kids aged about 5 to 10 years. Insulin is mandatory for their survival.

When Diabetes is first detected during pregnancy, it is classified as Gestational Diabetes which is very harmful not only for the mother but also for the child. The number has increased a lot in recent times.

Secondary diabetes may happen due to a damaged Pancreas, Pancreas extracted during surgery, some medicines, etc. It is thus classified as Diabetes due to some other reason.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Type 2

Type 2- In 70% of people, it is asymptomatic and in the rest 30% –

• Osmotic symptoms(more urination)
• More hunger and thirst
• Weight loss
• Loss of vision
• Fungal infection in the private parts of the body
• Bad breath

Type 1

All type 1 Diabetic people are symptomatic

• More hunger, thirst
• Significant weight loss
• shortness of breath- it is a medical emergency condition

Gestational Diabetes

It is a standard rule to test a pregnant woman for Diabetes the first time when they come to the hospital and subsequently in the 18^th and 24^th week. If found Diabetic, then treated for it.

Secondary Diabetes

After some complaints from the patients and studying their history, it is diagnosed and treated with either medicines or insulin according to the requirement.

Dr. Abhaya Sahoo

(Endocrinologist)