Genetic Factors

Type 1 Diabetes

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are caused by a mix of both environmental and genetic components. The specific genetic causes of type 1 diabetes are unclear, but it has been determined that it does affect the genes in a manner that causes the immune system to react to normal pancreatic beta cells negatively.

Type 2 Diabetes

For type 2 diabetes, the specific genes that cause it are also unknown but it is thought that a more direct cause of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, can be influenced by family history (and thus, genetics). Also, there is an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in women who have given birth to large (greater than nine pounds) babies and have had Gestational Diabetes (a temporary form of diabetes brought on by pregnancy, not mentioned here) or for those of African, Hispanic, Native American, or Pacific Islander descent. This risk is roughly three times that of the European population.