Genes a lifestyle choice?

[peter_s]

So, Diabetes.co.uk have joined all the press by asserting
"Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes can be prevented through appropriate lifestyle interventions. " So how do I change my genes? I have Haemochromatosis, only diagnosed when tested for Diabetes. I have two defective genes. Unfortunately, it is only diagnosed in this country when damage, i.e. Diabetes, has been done. I really resent being labelled as Obese (BMI26) and a Boozer (I don't drink alcohol at all). Hereditary Haemochromatosis (HH) affects at least 0.5% of the population, by diagnosis, and how many more are undiagnosed? Instead, they go on to die early from Heart attacks, e.g. my father at 66, his father at 33, his father at 31. Yes, diabetes risk is enhanced by having a close family member who has it, but the question which should be asked is why? HH is just one answer.

 

[LittleGreyCat]

Perhaps the appropriate life style intervention they had in mind was people not breeding? :roll:

A while back there was much focus on two sets of (possibly massaged) figures.
80% of diabetics were obese on diagnosis.
80% of obese people are not diabetic.

So already we have 80% of obese people not getting diabetes.
So they don't require life style intervention to prevent diabetes.

All this suggests that diabetes is linked to genetics, where you have a greater or lesser vulnerability.

Given that life style intervention can improve BG control and reverse the symptoms in some, there is a strong case for healthy living.

However although the majority of diabetics (and I think we are talking T2s here) do seem to be linked to obesity this isn't the only cause - perhaps mainly obesity causes an increased risk of diabetic symptoms presenting themselves earlier in life.

I was overweight (but not obese) when diagnosed.
I also had bad aspects to my diet - far too much sweets and carbs - which must have put a greater load on my system.
I was also in a very stressful job.

However I was pretty healthy, walking, running and cycling.
[Gloss over the alcohol consumption. ]

A major change in diet has helped to reduce my symptoms but has not returned me to pre-diabetic levels let alone restored glucose tolerance.
No Mars Bars for me without unwelcome BG levels.

I also have a family history of diabetes.

So like may other 'normal' weight diabetics who eat sensibly and exercise I too resent the assumption that T2 diabetes is something self inflicted by idle obese slugs who could cure themselves if they just got their act together and stopped leeching off the state.

So to be clear:
if you are obese you only have a 20% chance of contracting diabetes so you may be comfortable with these odds.

I think that it may be true that you can avoid the onset of T2 diabetes in the vast majority of cases if you live your life on a low carbohydrate diet, always keep your exercise levels up, avoid undue stress, avoid alcohol and other harmful drugs and keep your weight well withing the accepted 'normal' range.

This also, of course, means removing about 80% of the shelves from supermarkets and destroying several major industries including brewing, confectionery, baking, a lot of grain farming (apart from animal feed production), a lot of root crop farming, the sugar beet industry - well the list keeps growing.

Given that the tobacco industry is still thriving I wouldn't hold your breath.

Short term self interest is paramount throughout society in all areas, not just food.

Final thought - if global food rationing was introduced and the surplus redistributed to the malnourished then the health of the world population would improve dramatically.

Never happen.

Cheers

LGC

 

[phoenix]

Though the doctors in the UK tend to put everyone into one of two boxes (for convenience?), diabetes caused by haemochromatosis is neither T1 nor T2.
In the World Health organisation it is listed as one of the other types (sometimes labelled type 111/3) there are many other types. They include MODY which is caused by a genetic mutation, diabetes caused by damage to the pancreas and diabetes related to other diseases , diabetes caused by drugs etc (there are 8 sections: a-h)
This is from the European Association for the Study of diabetes where it is also listed under 'other types'
http://www.diapedia.org/other-types-of- ... hromatosis
(edit: just noticed that the author of the article is a British doctor; a professor at Bristol university.

definition of diabetes types from the same European Site (that's new, I was going to refer to the American/WHO version)
http://www.diapedia.org/other-types-of- ... s-mellitus

 

[peter_s]

Thanks, phoenix, for those very useful links. Diagnosis of Haemochromatosis is more by coincidence in this country; my Ferritin was high on my diabetes check-up, but had been, without remark, for 18 months. Had I not had Diabetes symptoms, I would not have had the blood tests, so would still be undiagnosed. I am also coeliac. These are nominally unrelated disorders, (the defects are at the same location on Chromosome 6) and in my case the anaemia which might be expected due to coeliac disease may well have slowed the iron take up due to Haemochromatosis.