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"Question I’m asking this on behalf of a friend whose grandfather and father have diabetes . Is it more likely that my friend will get it too? Is diabetes fatal? Answer Diabetes occurs in two forms; type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes), which occurs in young people and is the more severe form, requiring insulin injections type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes), which is milder and occurs in older people and is usually controlled with diet and tablets. The details of whether diabetes can be inherited, and how this occurs, are not clear. About 10 per cent of people getting the more severe Type 1 diabetes have a close relative with this type of diabetes. That is not the same as saying that 10 per cent of people with affected relatives will get diabetes, but there is an unpredictable association. Type 2 diabetes also has a tendency to occur in families, but this is also not very strong and not predictable. In your friend’s case, if grandfather and father are affected, they probably have the milder Type 2 form of diabetes, so your friend has little risk of developing diabetes at a young age. It may be there is an increased risk of him developing diabetes in later life, but it would be the milder Type 2 form. I am a little confused that you say, ‘he takes pills and does a blood sugar tes t’. If you are referring to your friend then this probably means he has the mild form of diabetes already, and is probably an older person. You ask if you can get very ill with diabetes and die. Diabetes is a serious condition, but these days if patients follow their diet and take their pills or insulin treatment regularly, and keep their blood sugar within certain limits, they rarely get seriously ill and can live a long and active life. That is not to say there are no dangers with diabetes, and if it is not well controlled it can lead to problems with blood pressure , the circulation, and trouble with the diabetic retinopathy and the kidneys . But it is very rare for someone to die young from these complications. As far as you are concerned, the chances of developing it are low, and as far as the people you mention with diabetes are concerned, if they stick to their treatment and their diet then they should continue to remain well for many, many years. Yours sincerely The NetDoctor Medical Team Other Qs &amp; As Am I at risk of diabetes? Am I likely to get diabetes too? Could I be developing diabetes? Could I be diabetic? Diabetes Did my heroin habit give me diabetes? Does a high glucose level mean I have diabetes? Does my daughter have diabetes? Do I have diabetes? Excessive thirst and diabetes Is my son diabetic? My father has diabetes – am I at risk too? My grandmother and my sister have diabetes – am I at risk? Last updated 03.04.2011"
<https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ask-the-expert/diabetes-faqs/a779/diabetes-in-the-family-is-it-inherited/>