vexed inheritance

Even the grandmother was diabetic? Or an uncle? The mother may suffer in diabetes? Then the risk is increased in oneself, to become ill. Because the genes involved in the development of diabetes have a role, both type 1 and type 2 in - though not the only one.



People with Type 1 diabetes usually diagnosed at an early age. In this form, the pancreas produce insulin. The metabolic hormone is necessary to bring the sugar from the bloodstream into cells. Hence, the body gets energy. May lack the insulin, the sugar stays in the blood, where it can cause major damage.
Disruption in the body's immune system

The reason for the lack of supplies: your own immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells, because they confuse it with harmful invaders. Why the body's defenses can derail such, is not yet finally resolved. But experts suspect that, among other genes were responsible.

When Type 1 diabetes is a particular group of genes on chromosome number six of meaning: the so-called MHC genes (for English: "major histocompatibility complex"). These genes contain the blueprints for MHC proteins - special proteins that help the immune system to distinguish endogenous from exogenous cells. These proteins are defective, because the genes are mutated, the differentiation is apparently no longer easily possible.

Is sometimes altered in people with type 1 diabetes, the insulin gene. Possibly other genomic regions are composed so that they influence several other players of the immune system negatively. All this increases the risk of disease.
Much is still unknown

Especially in type 2 diabetes seems to play a major role in heredity. For some families, this variant of diabetes appears in almost every generation. The statistics show: one parent is affected, the risk is for the child, also of type 2 diabetes to cancer, with about 40 percent. The probability rises to 80 percent if the father and mother are affected.

Was discovered in the first diabetes gene was not too long ago: in 2000. It contains the blueprint for a receptor with a complicated name Peroxysome proliferator activated receptor gamma, short PPARgamma. This receptor is involved when cells divide fat. A genetic mutation in this section may increase the risk of illness for those affected.

To date, scientists have identified a number of other potential diabetes genes. What effect these actually have on the development of type 2 diabetes has not yet been fully explored. The single mutated gene causes only a little. Only when many genes are mutated simultaneously, the risk of disease increases significantly.
Prevented with diet and exercise

One thing is certain: Diabetes Genes are only one risk factor among many. Whether someone falls ill during the course of his life actually decides not the genotype alone. Much more crucial is the way of life - the main causes of type 2 diabetes are obesity and physical inactivity. Diabetes cases are piling up in some families, because children learn the unhealthy lifestyle of their parents and take over. Therefore, it is difficult to prevent a disease so good: with sports and healthy eating.