Diabetes Runs in My Family — What Should I Do?

campaign

Diabetes Runs in My Family — What Should I Do?

By Alpro Pharmacy

April 1, 2025

If your parents have diabetes, you may have up to a 70% risk of getting it too!

Having diabetes yourself often raises questions about whether your children might inherit the condition. Research has shown that if your immediate family members such as parents or siblings had diabetes, your risk of developing the condition is as high as 3x higher than that of the general population. Usually, it starts with prediabetes, a state that is still reversible if we take action immediately, before it progresses into diabetes.

What Is Prediabetes? Is It the Same as Diabetes?

While prediabetes and diabetes are closely related, they are not the same. Prediabetes is a condition where your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. It serves as an early warning sign that your body is having trouble regulating blood sugar. Without intervention, 70% of prediabetes patients can develop into Type 2 diabetes within 10 years, but the good news is that prediabetes is reversible.

Many people aren’t aware that prediabetes can run in families. If you have a family history of diabetes, you may be more likely to develop prediabetes.

1. If One Parent Has Diabetes, What’s the Risk for Their Children?

If any of your parents were diagnosed with diabetes, your risk of developing prediabetes is 20-30% higher.

2. What If Both Parents Have Prediabetes or Diabetes—Is the Risk Higher?

If both of your parents have diabetes, your risk of developing prediabetes is up to 50-70% higher. This is because the combined genetic factors can make you more susceptible to developing this condition.

3. What If Your Twin Brothers or Sisters Had It —Does That Affect the Risk?

If you’re a twin, especially an identical twin, your risk for prediabetes increases if your twin has it. Identical twins share the same genetic makeup, which means if one twin has prediabetes or diabetes, the other is more likely to develop it as well. Studies show that identical twins have up to a 70% chance of both developing prediabetes. Fraternal twins, who share only about 50% of their genetic material, have a lower risk, but the likelihood is still higher than for the general population.

4. If You’re Pregnant and Have Diabetes, Will Your Child Be at Risk for Prediabetes?

Women who have gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops during pregnancy) are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. Additionally, they are more likely to experience gestational diabetes in future pregnancies.

The impact on the child can also be significant. Children born to mothers with gestational diabetes are at a greater risk of being overweight and developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

Prediabetes: A Warning Sign for Future Diabetes

It’s important to understand that prediabetes is not just a warning for higher blood sugar levels, but also a key signal that you may be at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes in the future. However, the good news is that prediabetes can be reversed with the right changes. The earlier you identify prediabetes, the better your chances are of preventing it from progressing into full-blown diabetes.

Take Action Early: Alpro Pharmacy is Here to Help!

We are offering FREE HbA1c screenings at all our outlets across Malaysia to help you detect diabetes early and take action before it becomes a serious health concern.