Own Risk for Inherited Disease

The type of disease that I consider a risk to myself is the type 2 diabetes. I believe that I may have this problem because my great-grandfather, grandfather, and now my father have had the disease in their lifetime. Generally, diabetes is caused by a simple mechanism that can easily be understood. The pancreas is a body part involved in the production of a hormone called insulin. The role of insulin is to convert food into energy. Individuals with type 2 diabetes do not have a problem with insulin production. In fact, they produce normal amounts. However, they develop what is known as the insulin resistance where the cells do not respond to the hormone. It, therefore, leads to the build-up of sugar in the blood since there is no mechanism to bring it down. The disease is associated with several symptoms including increased thirst, increased hunger, dry mouth, frequent urination, weight loss, blurred vision, heads, and in rare circumstances, the patient could experience loss of consciousness. The reason why this is considered a genetic disease is that the individuals do not show any deficiencies with any organ or the hormone insulin. The person shows a type of intolerance that can only be explained through the lenses of the genetic interactions. 

Mode of Inheritance 

First, it remains critical to note that research has confirmed that there is a strong genetic correlation between type 2 diabetes and genetics. The method of inheritance that happens in this type of disease is through what is known as a genetic mutation. A gene mutation can be described as the permanent alteration in the sequence of the DNA. The mutation causes the cells of the liver to develop tolerance. The mutated cells are transmitted through family members. In an attempt to prove that genetics plays a significant role in the causation of type 2 diabetes, studies have sought to utilize twins in a bid to rule out the involvement of the environmental factors. Other than causing the resistant cells, the mutations can also target the production of glucose, regulation of insulin, and sensing of the glucose in the body. However, the most important thing that should be noted is that individuals with this disease tend to have sufficient amounts of insulin that would lower glucose levels in a normal individual. Some of the genes that have thus far been associated with type 2 diabetes include TCF7L2, ABCC8, CAPN10, GLTU2, and GCGR (Morris et al. 2012). Most of these genes act on the liver which is the point at which the insulin asserts its functions. 

These genes primarily act via the process of mutation and have different forms of operation. For instance, the TCF7L2 affects insulin secretion and the production of glucose. The ABCC8 helps in the regulation of insulin (Morris et al. 2012). Therefore, all the genes interact leading to the development of type 2 diabetes. Other than mutation, the hereditary transmission of the disease can be looked through a different lens. It is important to note that diabetes is a lifestyle disease whose risk can increase after exposure to certain factors such as sedentary lifestyle and the type of diet. Since I have grown up emulating my father who has largely employed a sedentary lifestyle and the overconsumption of junk, I believe that inheriting these risky behaviors will also increase my chances of getting the disease. Other than these two factors, I have also come to develop a hypothesis that explains why I might acquire the infection that has traveled along my genealogy. The hypothesis states that since my great-grandfather, grandfather, and father have this type of illness, the probability that I will acquire the infection is at 75% considering that I am a member of the fourth generation in the genetic line. 

Additional Information 

In better understanding the disease, I need to continue consulting a wide range of information regarding the same. Most fundamentally, it is important to appreciate that tests are available to determine the nature and type of gene mutations that lead to the development of diabetes type 2. It also remains increasingly important to determine the signs or predictors that will inform me whether I will develop the disease other than the already discussed family history. They include high blood pressure, the body mass index, and my ethnicity. I can also consult information regarding the prevention strategy. They include starting a healthy plan, taking healthy meals, and seeking medical consultation before the signs and symptoms of the disease come into place. 

Problems in Gathering Information 

The primary problem that I encountered during the collection of information was the lack of honesty from my family members. Although they were determined to tell me the truth, they were not comprehensive enough. The reason for this is that they feared that I would suffer psychological knowing that I had a high probability of suffering from a potentially fatal disease. Secondly, accessing the medical records of my late grandfathers to assess their medical history was also a challenge because they were deemed confidential information. 

Lastly, if I could have a child, I could be open with him or her enough and disclose to them that they were predisposed to type 2 diabetes. However, this will only be done when I feel that they are mature or rational enough to understand the meaning of that. However, I will ensure that he or she begins early treatment and any risky behavior will be mitigated. 

Reference 

Morris, A. P., Voight, B. F., Teslovich, T. M., Ferreira, T., Segre, A. V., Steinthorsdottir, V., ... & Prokopenko, I. (2012). Large-scale association analysis provides insights into the genetic architecture and pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. Nature Genetics, 44(9), 981.