Managing Diabetes Is A Family Affair

When you’re a diabetic eating healthy is challenging.  Gaining the support of family and friends is crucial on your everyday path toward better health. But did you ever think that when those around you support your healthier choices they may also be helping themselves?

If you’re a recently diagnosed diabetic, your spouse or domestic partners is more likely to develop diabetes themselves, concludes a study presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 2015 Scientific Sessions. The study analyzed health data from Kaiser Permanente of Northern California (KPNC), an integrated health care system with over 3 million members. 

In general, the incidence of diabetes (rate of new cases diagnosed) for KPNC members was similar to the U.S. population.  But diabetes was diagnosed at a much higher rate among members whose spouse / domestic partner had been diagnosed with diabetes in the previous year.  This was true for both men and women, and for all age groups:   

	Overall KPNC Incidence	With Recently Diagnosed Spouses / Domestic Partners	Increase
All	0.83%	1.71%	206%
Men	0.96%	2.22%	231%
Women	0.71%	1.35%	190%
18-44 y.o.	0.34%	1.08%	318%
45-64 y.o.	1.17%	1.74%	149%
65-79 y.o.	1.50%	2.19%	146%

 

While first-degree genetic relatives (mother, father, sister, brother) with diabetes is one of the ADA’s risk factors, this may be evidence that a non-genetic family member with diabetes can a risk factor. 

As for the rest of the family, we all know that kids can make it tougher to stick to your diet, even if you have a partner joining you.  After all, sometimes it seems like they can (and do) eat pretty much anything they want, which increases our temptations.   But it turns out that they can also benefit from a little food discipline. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans.   The Guidelines are updated every five years, and the 2015 edition includes a recommendation for daily intake of added sugars – less than 10% of daily calories should be from added sugars.  According to the Department of Agriculture, all Americans are currently above the 10% limit, and it’s especially true for children and teenagers:

	Male	Female
1 – 3 y.o.	11%	11%
4 – 8 y.o.	15%	15%
9 – 13 y.o.	17%	17%
14 – 18 y.o.	17%	17%
19 – 30 y.o.	15%	16%
31 – 50 y.o.	13%	14%
51 – 70 y.o.	12%	12%
71 + y.o.	12%	12%

Undoubtedly, these dietary habits have been one cause growing epidemic of obesity, pre-diabetes and diabetes.  But reducing consumption of added sugar for even a short time can have significant clinical benefits for children.  A study recently conducted at the University of California, San Francisco showed that reduced sugar consumption by children at risk for Type II diabetes produced significant benefits very quickly.  Study participants reduced added sugar to 10% of daily calories by substituting complex carbohydrates without reducing their total calorie consumption.  Statistically significant improvements in weight, blood pressure, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, glucose tolerance and hyperinsulinemia were measured after just 9 days. 

So if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, it may be beneficial for the rest of the family to join you in watching their diets more carefully.  You’ll have a great support group and you could be helping your entire family to avoid developing diabetes.