Genetic predisposition may raise your chances of developing diabetes, but according to Science Daily, having a spouse who has the disease may also increase your risk.
Dr. Kaberi Dasgupta and a team of experts from the McGill University Health Centre analyzed data from six different studies which and looked into 75,498 couples who were diagnosed with diabetes. They found that aside from family history, spousal history is also a risk factor as husbands and wives tend to share similar eating habits and levels of fitness, which may then create a perfect environment for the disease.
“We found a 26 percent increase in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes if your spouse also has type 2 diabetes,” says Dr. Dasgupta, who suggests that couples should work closer toward a healthier lifestyle.
“This may be a platform to assist clinicians to develop strategies to involve both partners,” he adds.
(Photo by Pedro Ribeiro Simões via Flickr Creative Commons)
