When Type 2 Diabetes Runs in the Family…

Tyrell Hardtke

Diabetes in the Family: A Case Study

CDC’s 2005 Science Ambassador Program

Today’s Question:

You learn that type 2 diabetes “runs in the family.”

How can you avoid developing type 2 diabetes?

Diabetic

??

?

?

Presentation Overview

II. Family History

A. What is it?

B. How can we use it to stay healthy?

I. Diabetes

A. What is it?

B. Who has it?

C. How do you get it?

D. What does it do?

E. How do you fix it?

What is Diabetes?

• A person’s blood sugar levels are too high • Type 1: Pancreas produces little to no insulin• Type 2: Over time, lose ability to use the insulin

that the body makes

Pizza

Blood sugar

Insulin

Blood sugar

Who has Diabetes?• About 7% of the population (21 million people)

had diabetes in 2005 (2)• Type 1:

– Usually diagnosed in children and young adults – About 5-10% of people with diabetes have type 1

• Type 2:– Older Adults Children, adults, and older adults!!!– About 90-95% of people with diabetes have type 2

diabetes

What are the risk factors for type 2 diabetes?

• Age• Physical inactivity• Being overweight• For women:

gestational diabetes• Some racial/or ethnic

groups • Type 2 diabetes in the

family

How Bad is Type 2 Diabetes, Really?

• Increases your risk of….– Heart disease, high

blood pressure and stroke by about two times.

– Other complications include blindness, numbness, amputation, impotence, and kidney failure!

How Can We Treat and Prevent Type 2 Diabetes?

• Treatments:– Medications– Lifestyle changes

Prevention:– Learn about your family history– Work with doctor to monitor health closely, if it

runs in family– Eat a healthy diet and be physically active!

What Do You Mean “It Runs In The Family?!?”

• Family history of a disease: one or more of your relatives had a disease

• If you have a family history of a disease, you might have a higher risk of developing the disease than the average person

• Some combinations of your family history, your environment, and your behavior put you at higher risk for developing diseases

The Risk Triangle: A Type 2 Diabetes Example

Your Genetics

Your Behavior

Your Environment

Your Risk

Using Family History for Prevention

• Environment and behavior are modifiable risk factors

• Genetic make-up is a non-modifiable risk factor

• You can prevent disease by changing modifiable risk factors

Genetics

Behavior

Environment

Risk Risk Risk

In Summary…

• Diabetes is a serious, preventable disease that strikes about 21 million Americans!

• We can use knowledge of family history to prevent type 2 diabetes!

• Now, let’s look at a case of a woman who might be at risk, and see if we can help her…

References

1. Diabetes and Public Health Speak: A crash course on the public health aspects of diabetes. PowerPoint presentation by Pamela Allweiss, CDC Science Ambassador Program, June 2005.

2. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/diabetesintroduction/id029102.pdf [Accessed 10/27/05]

3. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/diabetes.htm [Accessed 3/27/06]

4. Family History: A disease prevention tool for public health and preventative medicine. PowerPoint presentation by Paula Yoon, CDC Science Ambassador Program, June 2005.

5. http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-statistics/heart-disease.jsp [Accessed 8/28/05]