Question
Diabetes has a genetic component, and I’m worried that if both my husband and I have diabetes, our child might also inherit it?
Answer
Although diabetes has a genetic predisposition, not all children will necessarily develop the condition. Research indicates that if both parents have diabetes, the risk of their children developing diabetes is approximately 5%; if only one parent has diabetes, the risk is lower; and in families where neither parent has diabetes, the risk is the lowest. However, genetics is not the sole determinant; lifestyle and environmental factors also play a role in the onset of diabetes.