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Low Carb Diabetes Site in Trouble.

  • Thread starter Thread starter serenity648
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More like a suite of genes - when I ran a genetic health report, it came back with about 15 different polymorphisms with increased risk of Type 2.
 
The more I read about the causative factors in T2D the more confused I get.

About the only thing I believe is that some time in the next few decades they will nail down the genetic factors more accurately. That would be a big deal in itself.

As my doctor told me in my first appointment post-diagnosis, speaking to someone who was not officially overweight and had no diabetes symptoms: "Who knows, it may have been genetic factors. It is what it is!"

I appreciated his admission of ignorance, but I dearly hope this situation does not prevail forever, for those countless millions who are at risk of T2D.

Knowing more about the causation would not only comfort people with T2D, more importantly it could help screen people who are at greater risk of developing the disease. At that point, lifestyle modifications (or meds, or whatever) could intervene to slow down or prevent what is currently an almost inevitable progression.
 
Grateful said:
The more I read about the causative factors in T2D the more confused I get.

About the only thing I believe is that some time in the next few decades they will nail down the genetic factors more accurately. That would be a big deal in itself.

As my doctor told me in my first appointment post-diagnosis, speaking to someone who was not officially overweight and had no diabetes symptoms: "Who knows, it may have been genetic factors. It is what it is!"

I appreciated his admission of ignorance, but I dearly hope this situation does not prevail forever, for those countless millions who are at risk of T2D.

Knowing more about the causation would not only comfort people with T2D, more importantly it could help screen people who are at greater risk of developing the disease. At that point, lifestyle modifications (or meds, or whatever) could intervene to slow down or prevent what is currently an almost inevitable progression.
Click to expand...
Dodgy territory ahead. Moral dilemma. If a genetic link is established and we find a screen test for it, then will society insist that everbody gets the test? I remember a time when couples getting married had to have his and hers blood tests before they could get a licence to marry

What if the doc tells you that you are a carrier? Do you give up sex, or the idea of having children? Should I go for a vasectomy (PS my local area CCG has just removed funding of these so would have to go private). I was diagnosed after my kids were born, so the testing would need to be occurring in childhood

There are some inherited conditions that can already be considered in this light.
 
Oldvatr said:
Dodgy territory ahead. Moral dilemma. If a genetic link is established and we find a screen test for it, then will society insist that everbody gets the test? I remember a time when couples getting married had to have his and hers blood tests before they could get a licence to marry

What if the doc tells you that you are a carrier? Do you give up sex, or the idea of having children? Should I go for a vasectomy (PS my local area CCG has just removed funding of these so would have to go private). I was diagnosed after my kids were born, so the testing would need to be occurring in childhood

There are some inherited conditions that can already be considered in this light.
Click to expand...

You are making some excellent points. As always, the consequences of having that new information will have to be balanced with the drawbacks. Ultimately we are looking for progress in reducing the prevalence of the disease, but without harming individual liberties or getting anywhere near eugenics!

Edited to add: I know someone with T1 who chose to adopt a child, rather than try having one herself. This was partly just because she was worried about being pregnant as a T1, but also because she didn't want to "pass it on." I have no idea what I would have done in her place, but it was a dilemma that resonates. This was a several decades ago, when knowledge of T1 causation was even skimpier than it is now.
 
I have advised my children and grandson to seek genetic counseling and screening not because of diabetes but because my wifes family carries the CF gene though what they would do with the information from that I do not know if both parents carry the CF gene then it is a 1 in 4 chance of the child being affected with every pregnancy.

There is also T1 on both sides of the family but the out comes are far less certain.
 
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