RISK FACTORS: DO OUR GENES PREDESTINE US TO DIABETES?

Our genes can increase our risk of one day developing diabetes. However, they do not necessarily predestine us! How to prevent this chronic disease?

Faced with diabetes, we are not on an equal footing! If one of the two parents is type 2 diabetic , the person himself has a 40% risk one day of being affected. What if both parents are involved? This risk increases to 70%. For type 1 diabetes , the impact of genes is more limited: the risk is only 5% if one of the two parents is affected !

 

Diabetes: is it in the genes?

In homozygous twins, that is to say twins whose genetic heritage is perfectly identical (identical twins) , the risk for one of the twins to develop type 2 diabetes when the other suffers from it is 76 % (2) . Similarly, certain populations, especially Latin Americans, are at greater risk than Caucasian populations. Our genetic heritage can therefore have a real impact!

 

Diabetes: other risk factors

This does not mean that our genetic heritage condemns us to develop diabetes! Other risk factors can indeed also play a role: physical inactivity and overweight . Acting on these can therefore completely prevent type 2 diabetes . How? 'Or' What ?

• By doing moderate physical activity for 30 minutes a day

• By watching his diet and his line to maintain a body mass index below 25.

Results ? If you follow these two instructions, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes – even if it was very high before – drops to less than 10%!

 

Are you overweight?

To find out, calculate your body mass index (BMI) . Divide your weight (in pounds) by your height (in meters) squared. If you weigh 68 kilos for 1.70 m, your BMI is 23.52 (=68/1.702) .

• Between 18 and 25, your weight is normal.

• Above 25, you are overweight.

• Above 30, you are obese.