Family History
Type 1 diabetes has a genetic predilection and, in some cases, can be predicted in family members. The overall prevalence of type 1 diabetes in the U.S. is ∼0.3%, but if a first-degree relative has diabetes, the empiric risk of being affected is ∼5% (17,18), representing a 15-fold increase among family members. Studies evaluating children at risk for developing type 1 diabetes have shown that the presence of more than two autoantibodies was associated with a nearly 70% risk for disease development within 10 years and 84% within 15 years (19). Evaluating at-risk individuals in the clinical setting is not yet recommended due to limited clinical interventions; however, ongoing research studies are identifying at-risk individuals through genetic testing in both the lower-risk general population and in the higher-risk population of relatives of people with type 1 diabetes.