Heredity and genetics may play a part in your risk of Type 2 diabetes. Researchers at St. Louis University have concluded that 50% of Americans may have the "diabetes gene". The recent study investigated two different versions of the gene FABP2, which determines how the body absorbs fat from food. People who had the Thr54 FABP2 variation of the gene seemed to have a higher rate of fat absorption than people who had the Ala54 FABP2 version. The people with Thr54 also tended to have lower glucose tolerance and higher fasting glucose concentrations.

Although the study says that half of all Americans have the variant gene, that does not mean that they will automatically get Type 2 diabetes during their lifetime. That is only one risk factor, but compounded by other risk factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, bad eating habits and obesity, greatly increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

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Edward Weiss, Ph.D., assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics at Doisy College of Health Sciences at Saint Louis University, stated in a press release, "Many other genes, some known and some unknown, are involved in a person's overall risk of developing diabetes. Those are things a person can't control. But there are risk factors for diabetes that a person can change -- lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise."

The study was published in the January, 2007 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Photo by Anton Malan