Type 1 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed - What Increases Your Risk
Risk factors for developing type 1 diabetes include:
-
Family history of type 1 diabetes. Having
a family history of the disease increases the chance that you will develop
antibodies to the insulin-making cells in the
pancreas. But it does not mean that you will develop diabetes. Only about 10%
to 15% of people with type 1 diabetes have a family history of the
disease.3
- If the father has the disease, a child has a 6% risk of developing it.
- If a sibling has the disease, a child has a 5% risk of developing it.
- If the mother has the disease, a child has a 3% risk of developing it.
- If an identical twin has the disease, the other twin has a 25% to 50% risk of developing it.
- Race. White people have a greater risk for developing type 1 diabetes than blacks, Asians, or Hispanics.
- Presence of islet cell antibodies in the blood. People who have both a family history of type 1 diabetes and islet cell antibodies in their blood are likely to develop the disease. Family members of people with type 1 diabetes can be tested to see if they have islet cell antibodies. People who are found to have islet cell antibodies may be able to take part in studies about preventing type 1 diabetes.
- Certain viral infections during childhood. A child who has enterovirus infections, particularly Coxsackie B infections, has a risk almost 6 times greater than other children for developing type 1 diabetes. But this does not mean that the child will definitely develop the disease.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Type 1 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed Topics
Is This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-69
70-130
131+
Your level is currently
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Did You Know Your Lifestyle Choices
Affect Your Blood Sugar?
Use the Blood Glucose Tracker to monitor
how well you manage your blood sugar over time.
This tool is not intended for women who are pregnant.
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