[quote user="kylie03mom"] Another interesting thing I found, is that all of us mom's are relatively close in age or were in school together, and other mom's of the same age have children with other medical issues. [/quote]
Interesting you mention this. My mom and a friend of hers growing up lived a block from each other. Both went onto have a son and daughter. Both of their daughters developed type 1.
this is AMAZING! I have loved reading everyone responses! I cannot believe how many of us either have another auto-immune, or someone else in our immediate family has something auto-immune.
So if I'm reading this correctly, your 6 yr old was dx at 20 months, is this the same child that the dr told you to nurse as long as possible or another child? I have a now 5 yr old with type1 and a baby, and they've told me to nurse as long as possible and not cows milk too. And no cows' based formulas either. Just thought it was interesting and if you had any other info as my baby is nearly 11mth and am still nursing as I am not sure of when to stop.
I have a cousin who is a few months younger than me, and she was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 3. I was diagnosed at the age of 18. She is on my mom's side of the family, and there is a long list of autoimmune disease on that side of the family, but we are the only T1Ds. Although I have an older cousin who's adopted daughter (non-blood relative) was just recently diagnosed with T1D.
They say Type 1 isn't hereditary but in my family we have had one type 1 each generation on my grandmothers side. So in my case I do think that it is hereditary.
I think for whatever reason Type 1 has been very hereditary (if it is possible to be very hereditary) in my family. My grandmother had gestational diabetes while pregnant with only one of her 6 kids - my father. At 12 he was diagnoced with type 1. When my parents decided to start having kids, they were told by his doctor there was about a 20% chance they would have a child with type 1 diabetes, since she has no family history. They had 2 children and both my little sister and I were diagnoced (her at 4 years and 15 for me). I find the story interesting since it usually is random and this is one situation where it is clearly not random.
They say Type 1 isn't hereditary but in my family we have had one type 1 each generation on my grandmothers side. So in my case I do think that it is hereditary.
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Yes, T1D is the result of a combination of genetics and environment. So one inherits their 'risk' via genetics, but being high risk genetically doesn't mean you will absolutely develop T1D in your life time, just as being low risk isn't necessarily protective against disease.
When my husband was diagnosed with hypothyroidism I bought a book called, The Thyroid Sourcebook. In the book it states that Grandmothers who have had Graves disease (thyroid problem) their children and grandchildren are statistically more prone to develop Type 1 diabetes.Incidentally, my husbands mother had Graves disease years ago
We know of no other relative with Type I. I have MS, so I agree there seems to be an auto-immune link. I have no family history so it's possible there were auto immune issues on my side. (adopted)
i'm the only one in my family that has it too! i don't think i would be the same person without it though. it has helped me overcome other things in life that i never thought were possible, it keeps me "on my toes" so, don't give up!
I'm the only one in my family as well on both sides to ever have type 1, we dont even have anyone with type 2. I have a son and i heard he's got a 2-5% chance of getting it, but i never got mine till i was 22 so i'm thinking thats when it could hit him..
Several of my family members have autoimmune disorders, but no living relatives with diabetes. Most researchers and government info agrees that diabetes is a "silent epidemic", so I wonder how many of my family members died from complications resulting from undiagnosed type 2.
I had a first cousin with Type 1 Diabetes. Two of my sons were diagnosed with Type 1. My parents and grandparents all had suffered from Type 2, so we definitely see the differences in treatment. It is frustrating when people ask if my boys couldn't just take a pill. I wish!
There does seem to be significant hereditary links with Type 1. Children's Mercy in Kansas City is participating in a study. They are testing people who are within a first degree of someone already diagnosed. I have another son and we plan to have him tested. I am also encouraging my siblings to have my neices and nephews tested.
My youngest sister was dx'd when she was 12 and my dx was 7 years later at age 24. There are eight in our family, so statistically 25%. Pam has rhuemetoid arthritis as well and I also had my thyroid stopped because of Graves disease.
My husband and I also suffer from autoimmune disease. I have rhuematoid arthritis and he has fibromyalgia. My sister had Graves and my mother has had thyroid problems most of her life. My mother-in-law had thyroid problems and is now taking a shot for a pituatary problem.
So, both sides are riddled with autoimmune problems. Whether that lends itself to Type 1 diabetes is yet to be seen, but it does seem likely.