Avoiding Diabetes
"My mother has diabetes, will I get it?"
"I have diabetes, are my grandchildren at risk?"
A common concern among people with diabetes is whether their children, grandchildren and other members of their families will get diabetes. While it is true that type 2 diabetes does run in families, there is good news about the possibility of delaying or preventing diabetes among people who are at risk.
A large study was recently completed among 3,234 people with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). People with IGT have blood sugars that are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. This study, called the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) was conducted at 27 centers nationwide. About 45% of the people who took part were members of groups with high rates of type 2 diabetes including African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and American Indians. The study also included other groups known to be at higher risk for type 2 diabetes, such as people 60 years old and older, women with a history of gestational diabetes, and people with a first-degree relative with type 2 diabetes, such as a parent or sibling.
Some of the people who took part in the study reduced their risk for getting type 2 diabetes by 58%. On average, this group exercised a total of 30 minutes per day, usually by walking or doing other moderate intensity activity. This group also lost 5-7% of their body weight, or an average 15 of pounds. Being more active and losing weight worked for all ethnic and age groups, but it especially well for the older group. They reduced their risk for diabetes by 71% with these lifestyle changes.
Others in the study were given metformin, (a medicine used to treat diabetes) and reduced their risk for getting type 2 diabetes by 31%. This medicine worked better in people who were younger and very overweight.
The study lasted only 3 years so it isn't known if diabetes can be completely avoided, but it showed that is can delayed. The changes don't have to be drastic -- people don't have to run marathons or be at their ideal body weight. Are there things that your family members can decide to do to keep your weights in a reasonable range and be more active? You can lead the way by giving them this information, and by encouraging and supporting their efforts.