Susceptibility to type 2 diabetes: perceptions and family communication regarding inheritance and primary prevention (WC2005-102)

Background

Starting date: 01/01/2006

With the increasing number of type 2 diabetic patients in the future, it is necessary to take preventive actions, especially directed at those most at risk. Besides known risk factors for type 2 diabetes, e.g. older age, obesity, and lack of physical activity, evidence has been found for genetic factors in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. People are more at risk if there is a history of diabetes in close family members, and there is strong evidence for an ethnic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is best described as a multi-factorial disease, meaning that not just one, but many genes play a role in interaction with environmental (behavioural) factors. People at risk can delay or possibly prevent getting diabetes by following a healthy lifestyle.

Little is known about how people with diabetes perceive the risk of ‘passing on’ their disease. There are indications that type 2 diabetes patients worry about the health of their close family members regarding the development of diabetes. Also family members of type 2 diabetes patients seem to be aware of ‘some’ increased risk. We do not know how this topic is discussed within families or how family members handle the consequences of possible increased susceptibility.

In the fight against the diabetes epidemic, providing information to high-risk populations is important. In our opinion, the issue of awareness raising among family members of type 2 diabetes patients deserves more attention. Patients as well as diabetes professionals might play an important role in this process.