It’s not diabetes itself which is passed through to children, only the tendency for them to develop the condition, which will only happen if something else triggers it.

If a father has Type 1 diabetes, there’s around a 1 in 20 chance that his child will develop diabetes and if a mother has Type 1 diabetes, the chance lessens to around 1 in 50. Type 2 diabetes can run in families.

The best action for children of parents with diabetes to take is to follow as healthy a lifestyle as possible; eat healthily, keep active and avoid becoming overweight.

(Diabetes UK)
 

As long as you maintain good control over your blood glucose levels, there is no proven relationship between Diabetic mothers and increased risks of congenital diseases in their children. There is an increased risk if your blood glucose levels are not well controlled. However, during pregnancy hormone levels are closely regulated and monitored for all diabetic patients and supplements are given to ensure that no complication arise during the pregnancy. An example is folic acid. There is also a close link between chances of devloping pre-eclampsia whilst pregnant and therefore blood pressure is also monitored regularly through clinic visits.

For more detailed information and the correct steps to take please see the following link. https://www.babycentre.co.uk/preconception/beforeyoubegin/diabeteswhattoknowexpert/

At the current moment, there is no cure for diabetes, either Type I or Type II. However, there are several treatments available for different patients. There are also more surgical options that are currently under testing and research to try and use transplant surgery to cure the disease. This however, is not currently available to the general public.For information see the treatment section of this website.

Yes, losing weight can help you control your diabetes better by helping you maintain a better blood glucose level on a long term level. This can be for a wide range of reasons, mainly as it lowers your insulin resistance and therefore may reduce your insulin requirements. Losing weight also helps with your Cardiovascular system and can help reduce blood lipid concentrations and blood pressure.

The hbA1c is tested using your blood in a normal blood test. In children, the blood can be taken from a finger similar to the normal finger testing they have to carry out several times a day. In adults, the blood is normally taken stright from the vein for convenience when attending a clinic appointment. The blood is then sent off to the relevant department for testing.

Pre-diabetes is exactly as described; it is a form of diabetes that devlops prior to diagnosis. It is normally due to an increased blood glucose level that is not yet of the stage for diagnosis but much higher than the average desired value. Having pre-diabetes may not be as severe but it can increase your chances of developing Type II diabetes and complications with the cardiovascular system such as heart disease. Pre-diabetes however can be fully reversed by changing your lifestyle and ensuring you remain healthy. Tests on your glucose levels are usually carried out yearly via a GP surgery.

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that is diagnosed due to high blood glucose levels whilst you are pregnant. The increased risk of developing this type of diabetes is related to the age of the patient when preganat or the health of the patient (Obesity, previous family history of diabetes). Other risk factors include hypertension and large volumes of amniotic fluid.