Knowledge of risk of developing diabetes mellitus among siblings of Type 2 diabetic patients.

Journal article

AIMS: We set out to investigate the extent to which siblings of diabetic subjects perceived themselves likely to develop Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) when offered screening tests. METHODS: Nondiabetic siblings, aged 35-74 years, of Type 2 diabetic patients who were more than 35 years old at diagnosis had fasting plasma glucose measured in a study to determine heritability of diabetes. Questionnaires assessing perceived likelihood of developing, seriousness and knowledge about diabetes were completed. Logistic regression assessed factors predicting perceptions of diabetes risk. RESULTS: Factors predicting diabetes on screening were male sex, increasing age and body mass index (BMI) > or = 30. Eighty-nine per cent of 540 eligible siblings completed questionnaires. Thirty-eight per cent saw themselves at increased risk of diabetes and 34% thought diabetes a serious problem. Predictors of perceiving an increased likelihood of developing diabetes were female sex, age 35-54 years vs. 55-74 years and having a parent with diabetes. BMI did not affect perceptions of likelihood. CONCLUSION: A perception of reduced vulnerability to diabetes may occur due to unawareness of risk or minimization of risk. Feelings of invulnerability may affect emotional response to a subsequent result. It is not known whether providing more information about the risk of developing diabetes prior to screening would affect outcomes

Authors: Farmer, A; Levy, J; Turner, R

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 233-237
• Publication date: 1999-03-01
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1464-5491.1999.00042.x
• EISSN: 1464-5491
• ISSN: 0742-3071
• Language: English
• Keywords: Logistic Models; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Middle Aged; Questionnaires; Aged; Mass Screening; Humans; Adult; Blood Glucose; Family Health; Male; Demography; Female; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors