Families with Multiple Type 1's

[T1Spouse&Proud]

I am seeing more and more multiple T1 families everyday. I know research says it's not totally genetic but... my observations seem to say other wise. I am think there are genetic predispositions that are genetically linked and passed. So I am interested for my knowledge and possible school research paper, if people who have T1 and have family members with T1 could post their family linkage to T1 IE:

My wife is a T1(Age 4dx)
and so is her Uncle(Age 25dx)
and Sister(Age 12dx).

Thanks

[Sandy's mom]

My dh, his brother and father are all type 1. Now my dd is.

On the Today show this morning Matt Lauer was having a discussion w/a guest about the rise in autoimmune diseases in general these days.

My personal opinion is that there is something in the genetics but our declining environment and the toxins in it are pulling the trigger.

[kirish]

My son type 1 dxd 3/06

My daughter type 1 dxd 3/08

No other family history of any other type 1 for as far back as we can tell.
Many others with autoimmune diseases though. Lupus and thyroid.

[T1Spouse&Proud]

My dh, his brother and father are all type 1. Now my dd is.

On the Today show this morning Matt Lauer was having a discussion w/a guest about the rise in autoimmune diseases in general these days.

My personal opinion is that there is something in the genetics but our declining environment and the toxins in it are pulling the trigger.


I am seeing a lot of T1 parent/children combos in these forums. After always being told it's not genetic and seeing the pretty prevalent connection within families, I am actually a little nervous for our soon to be born son.
I am totally going of on a tangent but I am wondering/worried if it's some sort of antibody passed through straight genetics or through postpartum acquisition like breast feeding.
Makes you stay up at night thinking about it.

[azkat]

My daughter was dx'd 11-09-07 and I was dx'd 12-11-07 almost exactly a month later. As far as we know there are no other cases in our family!

[munchkingirl]

I have it, my grandfather on my mothers side does and I think I have a 2nd or 3rd uncle somewhere that does.

I agree with you, even though its "not genetic", it kind of seems otherwise at times.

My brother in law, he's 12, has been being tested since he was 2 for possible development of diabetes - I don't know how they do it or what they are testing for exactly - but there was something in his bloodwork at 2 years old that says he has a predisposition to it. He also has a major immune system deficiency, maybe that has something to do with it. Whatever the case, his surrounding family has a history of type 2 diabetes, so the doctors test him once a year. Kinda strange.

[sarahconnormom]

My husband was dx with T1 at age 19.
Our son was dx 3 months ago at age 6 1/2.

[rachabetic]

I am seeing more and more multiple T1 families everyday. I know research says it's not totally genetic but... my observations seem to say other wise. I am think there are genetic predispositions that are genetically linked and passed. So I am interested for my knowledge and possible school research paper, if people who have T1 and have family members with T1 could post their family linkage to T1 IE:

My wife is a T1(Age 4dx)
and so is her Uncle(Age 25dx)
and Sister(Age 12dx).

Thanks

It is somewhat genetic. There is something in the genetic makeup that shows you have the possibility of getting diabetes. Then something in the environment, many say and type of illness, triggers the antibodies to attack the beta cells in the pancreas. So the predespostion of Diabetes is genetic.
PS:at least this is what i have reasearched and what i think!:D

[sneetch]

There are four people dx with type 1 in my family.

Me, dx at 20
My sister, dx at 34
My mother, dx at 27
My uncle(on my mothers side), dx at 20

[ange_mom]

My husband and son are both type 1. I was told after my son was diagnosed that there is a 20% chance of a child getting diabetes if the father has it.

[kkuncl]

My son was diagnosed when he was 4 and my daughter when she was 6. We do not have any other history of Type 1 in our family, but we do have other history of autoimmune diseases, like Thyroid, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis.

[Thoover]

My son type 1 dxd 3/06

My daughter type 1 dxd 3/08

No other family history of any other type 1 for as far back as we can tell.
Many others with autoimmune diseases though. Lupus and thyroid.

Funny how you mention Lupus, my mother in law has Lupus and the doctors asked does Diabetes run in our families, we said no and really his mom has lupus not type 1. The doctor said well you can't rule that out. There is no family history on either sides of type 1 with our families.
I was adopted and had no medical information till now. I have found my birth father and mother to get medical information and nothing runs on their sides as well.

[Ali]

It is somewhat genetic. There is something in the genetic makeup that shows you have the possibility of getting diabetes. Then something in the environment, many say and type of illness, triggers the antibodies to attack the beta cells in the pancreas. So the predespostion of Diabetes is genetic.
PS:at least this is what i have reasearched and what i think!:D

This is my understanding also. You are typically more likely to have the predisposition genetic make up if you have a family history but anyone can be born with that genetic mix. Also it seems to be established that you need either more than the genetic predisposition for it to develop or "emerge" such as an external trigger or some other genetic combination that we are not able to test for yet. I have type one and at least one of my sisters has the genetic predisposition but never developed diabetes-she is four years older than me and now in her fifties. I was diagnosed as a teen she just recently discovered she had the genetic markers for type on during an autoimmune clinical trial. This genetic/external trigger combination is thought to be true for many cancers and other diseases.Ali

[kel4han]

My Dad dx'd age 32 in 1987
Me dx'd age 28 in 2006
My daughter Maddison dx'd age 6 (nine months after me!)

My husbands Aunt dx'd at age 13
My husbands Great Grandfather
My husbands Great Uncle

YIKES!!!!

[Isabelle's Mom]

DH and DD both have it, so does my aunt on my mom's side. She was diagnosed as a young adult.

[BrendaK]

My mom was dx'd at age 17

My son was dx'd at 9 months old

I was dx'd at age 30

All with type 1

Maternal grandfather has type 2

[T1Spouse&Proud]

Interesting study going on in the US and abroad, anybody been screened?

http://teddy.epi.usf.edu/

[Thoover]

we are being screened through Trial Net May 3.

[yeswe'rebothD]

Derek-- I don't think it has to do with breastfeeding-- I could not breast feed our oldest, and she developed D at age 5. Also, I was breast-fed till I was nearly 4 years old... :)

Here's our family run-down:

My dad's dad at age 16 T1
My dad's mom in mid-30's T2
My dad's sister in mid-20's misdiagnosed as T2 (since it developed during pregnancy and at adult age), but either T1 or LADA
Myself at age 11 T1
My second cousin (dad's side) also about age 11 T1
My oldest dd at age 5 T1
My mom's mom at age ~87 T2

clearly there is something genetic about it in our family.

[Brensdad]

I am type 1. My daughter is type 1. My cousin is type 1.

My wife's dad died of T1 complications at age 30. Her aunt (her dad's sister) is also type 1.

[yeswe'rebothD]

I should have added, my dad's dad is the only one deceased so far.

[momandwifeoftype1s]

My older son is type-1 diabetic, diagnosed at age 5
My younger son is not diabetic
My husband is type-1 diabetic, diagnosed at age 15

[Caydens_Mommy]

My dh has type 1 since he was 6 months old
My son type 1 since he was 2
My grandmother had type 1 (she passed due to complications)

[AmberO]

My identical twin was dx with type 1 at 13 months of age. She passed away 7 years ago when we were 25 (due to complications).

My brother was dx type 1 at the age of 2 years 4 months.

My daughter was dx type 1 at the age of 2 years 4 months also.

My mother was dx type 2 a month after my sister died (which was recently seen as a misdiagnosed and is now classed as 1.5)

My dads mother was type 2 and my husbands grandmother was type 2.

Back in the early 80's, my family participated in a twin study/gene study. It was shown that I had the same D gene markers as my sister.

[Type 1]

I think that a big mistake is that people assume that they don't have 'genetic disposition' to '(Type 1) diabetes' because they don't have a family history.

But if you included the other related autoimmune diseases that all share the same genetic disposition (Rheumatoid Arthitis, Lupus, MS, Celiac, Thyroiditis, Grave's, Addison's,etc.), I am more than willing to bet that more than 10-20% of us have a 'family history'.

The simple fact is, for most of us, genetics play a role in Type 1. Clinical autoimmunity and related disease is not a natural state that just happens in otherwise normal people. If you are born with a specific set of genes (that can easily run in families), and you are exposed to trigger 'x', you will get Type 1. Type 1 is often stated incorrectly to be either 'genetic' or 'not genetic'. Really, it is both. Genetics and a trigger (for most cases) are required for all autoimmune disease, and T1 is no exception.

Since the genetics and triggers seem to be complex, it is also not unheard of for only one person in a family to develop the disease. Some families may share a stronger genetic disposition and/or trigger exposure over others.

I have multiple severe autoimmune diseases throughout my immediate AND distant family (including 5 cases of T1), and a VERY strong disposition. As such, I have decided not to have children. And I would never have children with someone with a history of diabetes in their family or autoimmunity (or any other disease) if I somehow lost my mind and decided to procreate. Sorry, but that's just irresponsible to your future children if you have a strong family history. I'm not saying everyone needs to think this way, but I definitely do. I living proof of why some people shouldn't have kids. I have 4 autoimmune diseases and I'm not even 30....it's sad really. Sick people often breed sick kids...so no kids for me.:p

[Kent T]

I have Type I D, my wife and her twin brother have T 1 D, both adopted DS have T 1 D. All 5 of us pump (with Animas). All 5 of us also have spina bifida and many allergies. Latex included. Wife, Twin Brother, and DS'es are Scandinavian.

[cockatiel]

Dh has T1D
We have four children ages 13 - 20. The youngest was diagnosed w/ D a year ago.

A first cousin of MINE has it.

On dh's side (lots of siblings there!) -- mild asthma but no other autoimmune of any kind.

[starlittbobo]

I agree I am a 32 y/old type 1 diabetic and I have 2 daughters that have type 1 as well

[Kalebsmom]

As far as we know Kaleb is the only Type 1 on either side. However, my mom does have MS.

[Mike&Dans.Mom]

My two sons have type 1.
My ex remarried and has a son who also has type1.
I am convinced that genetics are involved.
Three sons from 2 different mom's - what are the odds??

[tiffanie1717]

I have multiple severe autoimmune diseases throughout my immediate AND distant family (including 5 cases of T1), and a VERY strong disposition. As such, I have decided not to have children. And I would never have children with someone with a history of diabetes in their family or autoimmunity (or any other disease) if I somehow lost my mind and decided to procreate. Sorry, but that's just irresponsible to your future children if you have a strong family history. I'm not saying everyone needs to think this way, but I definitely do. I living proof of why some people shouldn't have kids. I have 4 autoimmune diseases and I'm not even 30....it's sad really. Sick people often breed sick kids...so no kids for me.:p

I respect your opinion. I don't agree, though.

To me a child is more than a health history. I wouldn't trade my D children in for ANYTHING. And if they had 5 more diseases I would still be grateful to God for giving them to me and for how much they have enriched my life.

*****

Original poster: DD was dx 5/08, DS was dx on 2/09, No history of T1 in family, T2 is present on both sides in grandparents, DH has Crohn's Disease

[redcurls3]

I know I'm late to this post but thought it was interesting some of the diseases that have been listed. Both of my children have a definite genetic type of diabetes. They have a very rare but specific gene mutation that causes their Neonatal Diabetes. Although it is different from Type 1 in that it can be treated with glyburide pills instead of insulin. However, my husband's family has several of the autoimmune disorders listed in other posts.

Husband's family history:
Older sister has Grave's disease
Younger sister has hypothyroid
Father has hypothyroid
Both Grandmothers had Type 2 Diabetes

My family history:
Grandmother, Grandfather, and Father all have Obesity related Type 2

[actualreality86]

I know this is targeted more towards parents, but my family history is very interesting.

My father diagnosed 2 weeks after I was born in 1986 with T2
I was diagnosed in 1999 with T1

My father's great aunt was diagnosed with T2 in 2002

I don't know when my father's step mother was diagnosed, but she was either a T1 or T1.5 LADA because she took both pills and insulin.

The only one blood related to my father was his great aunt and myself. My father was adopted [his biological mother's second husband] and we don't know the history of his biological father, nor do we want to have anything to do with the biological father.. To us his mum's second husband has always been my father's father despite the adoptive part.

[vzx899]

I am the 4th of six kids in my family and was diagnosed with T1 Diabetes since 1973 at the age of 10. By that time my older brother and older sister had already been diagnosed a few years earlier. My brother at age 11 and my sister at age 9. My youngest sister was then diagnosed when she was 14.
We were fortunate to attend several sessions in a summer camp (Joslin for boys and Clara Barton for girls) in Massachusets. Neither my father, nor my mother had diabetes. We grew up in Mexico, but now I live in the US. My father passed away several years ago (brain tumor), but did not have diabetes and my mother 74 does not have diabetes, so I am sure there was something in their genes. All of us kids got married and have children. I personally have 3 children, and so far they do not have diabetes. My 2 sisters and my brother have 2 kids each and fortunately they have not developed dibetes. We are all in good health, even though, we have had diabetes for more than 30 years. We are all controlled with 2 or 3 daily insulin shots.

Jose

[rachel20091982]

i am type 1 dx 03-02 at 19. (due to medical complication from a surgery) I also have hypothyroid

I could go on forever with all the auto immune disses in my family it is amazing. my mom is type 2.

My kids A1c are check yearly and their bg checked 2x a month at least. daughter 5yr and son 2yr. both non-D hope it stays that way.

[jenyeaz]

Well the understanding that I have is Type 1 Diabetes is NOT genetic... but Auto Immune diseases are... and Type 1 Diabetes is an Auto Immune disorder, along with many other conditions. To have an auto immune disease both your mom and your dads side has to have an auto immune disease it can't be passed down from only one side of the family is HAS TO BE both! For example: on my moms side of the family there are 3 cases of auto immune disorders, while on my dads side there is only one. So my older sister and I both have auto immune diseases. I have Type 1 Diabetes (diagnosed at age 14) and Addisons Disease, along with low blood pressure, and my doctor is worried about my thyroid as well. While my sister also has Addisons Disease (it's extremely rare about 1 in 500,000) and has Thyroid problems as well. I hope this helps, my doctor has been doing a lot of studying on my family line and this is what we've come across so far. =]

-Jenna

[Ellen]

And also Type 2 diabetes and Type 1 is not genetic in any way shape or form. There on opposite sides of the spectrum....


Well the understanding that I have is Type 1 Diabetes is NOT genetic... but Auto Immune diseases are... and Type 1 Diabetes is an Auto Immune disorder, along with many other conditions. To have an auto immune disease both your mom and your dads side has to have an auto immune disease it can't be passed down from only one side of the family is HAS TO BE both! For example: on my moms side of the family there are 3 cases of auto immune disorders, while on my dads side there is only one. So my older sister and I both have auto immune diseases. I have Type 1 Diabetes (diagnosed at age 14) and Addisons Disease, along with low blood pressure, and my doctor is worried about my thyroid as well. While my sister also has Addisons Disease (it's extremely rare about 1 in 500,000) and has Thyroid problems as well. I hope this helps, my doctor has been doing a lot of studying on my family line and this is what we've come across so far. =]

-Jenna

There are genes which have been identified for type 1 diabetes and genes that have been identified for type 2 diabetes. Here are a couple of links if you are interested in learning more.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/picrender.fcgi?book=diabetes&part=A987&blobtype=pdf Genetic Factors in Type 1 Diabetes

https://www.t1dgc.org/home.cfm Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium


http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/jc.2008-1345v1 THE GENETICS OF TYPE 2 DIABETES: A REALISTIC APPRAISAL CIRCA 2008