Dispelling the Myth related to Family History and Diabetes Risk - Dr K Mahendrasekar

It's important in diabetes management because it provides a long-term picture of blood sugar control. Physicians use HbA1c levels to assess a patient's risk of diabetes, monitor their treatment effectiveness, and adjust medications or lifestyle changes accordingly. Maintaining a target HbA1c level helps reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications.

Contrary to the popular myth that having no family history of diabetes guarantees immunity from the disease, diabetes doesn't solely rely on genetics. While a family history can increase one's risk, several factors contribute to diabetes, including lifestyle choices and environmental influences. Type 1 diabetes, for instance, often occurs without any family history. Type 2 diabetes, the more common form, is strongly associated with lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity. Therefore, even if your family is diabetes-free, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, regular check-ups, and awareness of risk factors remain essential in preventing diabetes, as genetics is just one piece of the puzzle.

In this video, Dr K Mahendrasekar from Tamil Nadu discusses the HbA1c test and its importance in Diabetes monitoring while dispelling the myth that an individual would not develop Diabetes if there is no family history.