Family Ties Increase Risk of Diabetes, Greater Risk for Women

Filed in archive Family Matters , Notable , Research on November 16, 2007

The risk of developing complications from diabetes is greater in certain families and that the risk of complications is greater for women.




Such were the findings of a new study.

According to David A. Greenberg, Ph.D., of the Columbia-presbyterian Medical Center in New York City and senior author of the study (Maria C. Monti, Ph.D., also of the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and the University of Pavia in Italy, was the study's lead author):

"Our research indicates that susceptibility to certain complications of type 1 diabetes, especially retinal damage, has a strong familial and probably genetic component, and women may be more susceptible to these complications than are men.

This also was the first demonstration that women may be at greater risk for complications than men. This was a surprise to us, especially since there is no known increased risk for type 1 diabetes in females.

It suggests that, to the extent that good glucose control can delay complications' onset, women may need to be more diligent in keeping blood glucose under control."

Find more details from Science Daily.