If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you may have wondered what factors caused you to have the disease. There are many myths about diabetes and what causes it in some people over others. You can determine if you are at risk for developing diabetes based on previous research, though all of the genetic factors about diabetes are not known.

Diabetes is not strictly hereditary, but  family history of diabetes can give you an idea if you are at risk for developing the disease later in life. Like many other illnesses, your environment affects your risk, too.

Genetic factors

Scientists have found that genetics has some power over a diagnosis of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. There isn’t just one genetic marker that tells you whether or not you’ll develop diabetes, but rather a series of genes that can influence your risk.

If you have a family history of diabetes, it can be hard to assess whether your risk is genetic or environmental. Oftentimes, it is a combination of these two factors. Researchers are working on studies to continue learning about how genetics affects diabetes, what personal risks people face, and other aspects of the disease’s causes.

Environmental factors

T1D occurs more often in colder climates and is classified as an autoimmune disease. Researchers know that certain bacteria could cause T1D, and that genetic factors could allow these bacteria into a person’s body. This has led them  to believe that numerous environmental factors are at play that increase or decrease an individual’s risk of getting T1D.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has genetic foundations but is predominately affected by a person’s environment. A lack of exercise, digestive tract bacteria, and other lifestyle choices can increase the risk of developing T2D.

However, not all overweight people have diabetes, and not all people with a family history of diabetes will be affected by it. The risk we  have for developing a variety of diseases is incredibly personal, customized to our unique genetic makeup and the environmental factors around us.