| Advertisement |
 |
 |
|
|
Question: From Portugal:
Can you tell me how diabetes "transmits?" I know that is hereditary, but is it from mother to son or daughter, from grandmother to grandson and granddaughter?
Answer:
Type 1 Diabetes is a disorder of the immune system in which certain white blood cells perceive the insulin producing cells in the pancreas as foreign or 'non-self' and, over a period of years, destroy them. There are two factors which contribute to the disorder: one is inherited and the other is environmental. This second factor is not well understood; it may be a virus or some component of the diet.
The inherited part consists of patterns of proteins which constitute part of the cell surface; these are called HLA antigens. There are a number of different patterns or haplotypes, and each confers a different degree of susceptibility to diabetes onto the individual carrier. This HLA pattern may be passed down through either the maternal or the paternal line; but whether someone actually gets diabetes depends on whether they inherit a particular pattern from their mother or their father or from both. It depends too on the degree of susceptibility that a particular pattern confers and of course on whether they are also exposed to the environmental factor.
There is a genetic component to Type 2 diabetes which is even less well understood.
Original posting 27 Nov 96
Advertisement
 |
 |
||
Last Updated: Sun Jan 15 12:01:28 2006
This Internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other health care professional.
This site is published by Children With Diabetes, Inc, which is responsible for its contents.
By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use, Legal Notice and Privacy Policy.
© Children with Diabetes, Inc. 1995-2008. Comments and Feedback.
