Question:
i am trying to have a child with my new husband and want to understand
the risks of diabetes. i am a type 2 for the past three years (since
age 16) and am in ok control (a1c about 8-9 usually). i have no other
undesirable genetic traits that i know of, nor does my husband. he is
in his 40's and in very good health. what are the chances of passing
this disease along to our kids? i have no problems yet as a result of
my diabetes, and hope to remain symptom free for a long time. i am in
good health and otherwise physically very good. how likely is it that
our kids will inherit this condition? are there any issues i should be
awarer of given that i may be pregnant at any time?
Answer:
I'm a T2 diagnosed at age 39, with no family history of diabetes, and
few other characteristics sterotypical of diabetics. I moved to Arizona
in '91, and from '91 to '98, I used my bicycle to commute to work...just
about 5 days a week 48 weeks a year. A second kid and second car in '98
basically allowed me to revert to my natural laziness. Occasionally, I
whine about the lack of identifiable cause for my diabetes.
That said, I think I'm going to go another tack.. why, at 19, early in
your marriage, when you're still in college, are you so hot to have a
kid? My wife and I were married in '89 and waited basically 5 years
before trying to have a kid. My wife was still working on her masters
when she got pregnant, and it was not fun.
My advise to you: wait a couple of years before "kidding"... at least
wait to finish school! (That'll also give you time to get your A1c to a
place that your docs are more comfortable with)
mt
