So I’ve been diabetic for 9 years now and at 20 years old I’m having my first kid. I am very scared that some how my son is going to get T1D and I just wanna hear from other parents if they were ever told weather or not their child could get it or what the likely good of a child that has a parent with diabetes will become type 1. Thank you all for the replies and advise, I will update this post once he is born and I am calmed down because I’m you all can help me out with that. Thank you!
Hi Mason @MasonxCodyxtype1, ;et my offer you a Warm Welcome to TypeOneNation - I can feel your excitement about your baby.
Also let me suggest that just because you have TypeOne does not mean your baby will develop TypeOne - the opposite is more probable.
I’ve had TypeOne for 62 years and none of my children [now in 50’s] or grandchildren - granddaughter older than you] have diabetes or any sign of it. Type one IS NOT inherited.
Other types of diabetes - the ones associated with lifestyle often travel in families because children often imitate their parent’s behavior. Also MODY diabetes, caused by a gene defect, often is inherited - TypeOne, an autoimmune condition is very rarely inherited.
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Well there is a higher than normal chance your child can develop it, it is genetic.
Data shows genetics for mutations are seen more on female side of line so if mother is a T1D then odds are increased.
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both parents have T1D is higher risk
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Caucasian’s also are higher risk for T1D
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Not breast feeding is a higher risk. 3 years breast feeding has lowest risk.
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Carring past 9 months is higher risk and before 8.
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Drinking cows milk is increased risk
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northern climate
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some virus’s like measles or mumps may trigger T1D
I wish there was a solution or way to cure it, but sad news is we can’t right now, but hopefully soon. Just do the best you can and hope they will grow up without our life expierences, but even if for some reason they do develop it. Just know they will be okay. Yes it does suck, but they will be okay because they have you to help them.
https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/type-1-diabetes/type-1-diabetes-risk-factors
Mason,
When my daughter was born I asked my endo the same question. His response was there is 1 in 100 chance that a baby would develop diabetes in America. He said because I had diabetes my daughter would have a 2 in 100 chance. She is now 35 and no signs of problems.
My Maternal grandmother had diabetes and out of 25 grandchildren I’m the only T1D and to my knowledge none of the great grandchildren have been diagnosed.
Take heart we would not wish this on any of our children but look at all the advances over the past 45 years as I was diagnosed in 1971.
@Jayserna, I didn’t see your footnotes, either.
@MasonC115. There is no absolute answer here. Joslin has some summarized information here: https://www.joslin.org/info/genetics_and_diabetes.html
When I learned my wife was pregnant, I developed panic out of desperation to control what I cannot control. It got worse when my son was born. What I can tell you is that we may fear many things that may or may not ever come to reality, it is best not to waste your days in this endless pain. I have found it better to do the best job you can, forgive your self for being imperfect (ie human), and choose to commit to being there no matter what comes. This is the measure of being a parent,
Congratulations and warm wishes for health and long life!
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Hi Mason, congratulations on your baby boy!
I don’t know the answer to your question but my daughter is almost 4, diagnosed 4 months ago, and we have no family history. We also have a 2.5 year old and our endo told us her risk was only slightly elevated for T1D. I imagine it’s the same for a child of a T1D parent.
Having children is scary. It’s also wonderful and rewarding and at times frustrating. But they’re tiny and helpless and you want to do everything in your power to protect them. And sometimes you can’t. From diabetes, from life threatening allergies or asthma or or or.
Your baby is going to be great because you are obviously already a great dad. And odds are he won’t develop T1D, but if he did, there’s no one better to handle it than you. I wish more than anything I could take it away from my little girl but she is thriving and we will continue to do everything in our power to give her the world and take the absolute best care of her. You will too, with or without diabetes.
Hopefully your pediatric endo is familiar with the NIP study which was funded by JDRF and NIH…youbcan go to www.preventt1d.org to learn about supplements. In NIP, we just used an algal DHA.
Well nothing is black and white and all answers are hypothesis, because no really knows 100%. But there are studies that do show trends in TD1 cases.
I know in my family we defiantly see genetics. My grandma was 1 of 8 and she was the only one with TD1. My aunt was 1 of 12 1st gen cousins and only one with diabetes. I am 1 of 14 1st gen cousins and only one with diabetes. Both my parents don’t have it and none of my aunts children have it.
It’s just a roll of the generic dice sometimes and possibly some other external factors like I was born 3 weeks late. Studies show this is a higher risk.
I’ve been T1D for over 3 decades. I have amazing kids and asked my endocrinologist the same things. The information I was given was that my children getting T1D was virtually the same as any other child. She said that there is a slightly higher risk if diabetes is on the dad’s side of the family. Simply said, people may be born “normal” but stuff happens in life - accidents, broken bones, cancer, etc. Enjoy your pregnancy and the joy of your precious son.
As far as the “northern hemisphere” thing, it’s likely because most of the worlds population lives in the northern hemisphere. 
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I’m going to flip your question–let’s say your child DOES develop T1D. So what? Sure, it’s a pain in the butt, but here we all are living our lives despite our diagnosis. We are all so much more than our diabetes.
As a bit of background, I am a T1D child of two T1D parents. I have a 4 year old son who is (so far) showing no signs of T1D. While I hope my son can avoid this ridiculous disease, if it happens it happens and we will deal with it. Life certainly doesn’t end at diagnosis.
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