I Have Pre-Diabetes. Am I Destined for Type 2?

Q: My physician told me she believes I have pre-diabetes. My grandmother had diabetes, and I hear that diabetes skips a generation, so is that why I have pre-diabetes? Is there any way to prevent getting actual diabetes?

A: The fact that your grandmother had type 2 diabetes could certainly mean you have a higher risk of developing this common type of diabetes. People with a family history of type 2 diabetes are at greater risk, especially if you have a parent or sibling who had or has it. Genetics does play a role. We also know that Hispanics, African-Americans, and Native Americans have a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes.

However, the notion that type 2 diabetes skips a generation is not true. If your grandmother had type 2 diabetes, your parents, your siblings, and your children are all at risk for developing it. Help your family members recognize that family history is one risk factor. Encourage them to talk to their doctor about their family history and ask whether their blood glucose should be checked, particularly if they have other risk factors such as being overweight, being a member of a high-risk ethnic population, or having heart disease.

Jeannette Jordan, M.S., R.D., CDE, is the American Dietetic Association's national spokesperson for African-American nutrition issues and oversees nutrition education at the Medical University of South Carolina.