Link Between Diabetes and Family History

People with a family history of diabetes tend to gain more weight than those without a genetic predisposition‚ according to research published in Diabetologia.

A team of Australian researchers recruited 41 men and women‚ both with and without a family history of type 2 diabetes‚ and the participants consumed a high–fat diet of about 1‚250 calories more than what they needed. All participants had gained weight after four weeks and demonstrated signs of insulin resistance. However‚ those with a family history of diabetes gained an average 7.5 pounds‚ compared to the average 4.8 pounds gained by those without a family history. The results suggest that although lifestyle and diet contributes to diabetes risk‚ there may be a genetic predisposition against which individuals should also try to protect themselves.

New York Times P. D6