Family Genogram
The paper analyzes my three-generation family genogram tracing the history of diabetes and high blood pressure in my family (Figure 1). I am a female who has both diseases; both my parents also had them. Out of the seven siblings of the father, high blood pressure was observed in two, and diabetes in one. In the third generation, none of the family members had any of these diseases.
Potential Associated Disease Patterns
Genetic Patterns
A large number of polymorphisms associated with the development of diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure are known. The study of alleles of several HLA genes, particularly the frequency of occurrence of HLA genes of the second class, revealed a relationship between their presence and an increased risk of diseases such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension (Cole & Florez, 2020). It has been found that specific allelic variants of HLA class II genes are associated with an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes mellitus (Cole & Florez, 2020). Many patients with diabetes mellitus are carriers of some HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR4 alleles (Cole & Florez, 2020). Since diabetes mellitus has a hereditary predisposition, studying the interactions of these genes can provide a preliminary assessment of the likelihood of developing this disease.
Environmental Patterns
There is a possibility that environmental pollution, with various characteristics, resulting from the functioning of one of the most essential anthropogenic environmental pollutants, such as alternative and additional communication, may have an influence. Additionally, diabetes and high blood pressure can be exacerbated by other factors related to urbanization (Kang et al., 2019). Thus, the environment influences the development of a typical polyetiological autoimmune disease with a constitutional genetic predisposition and a threshold effect on several exogenous influences, such as diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure.
Family History Patterns
The risk of developing type 1 diabetes mellitus increases with the detection of HLA-DR4 and DQ haplotypes in the family history (Kang et al., 2019). By itself, it increases the risk of autoimmune disorders in its host (Cole & Florez, 2020). If a man has it, but a woman does not, then their potential child will receive this gene from the father in 50% or 100% (Kang et al., 2019). During pregnancy, fetal cells with CD4 protein on their surface can enter the mother’s body and be a potent antigen for her immune system (Kang et al., 2019). As a result, the child may develop diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure.
Indications for Potential Genetic & Genomic Services
Indications for potential genetic and genomic services include a hereditary disease in the family history, such as diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure. Additionally, it is necessary to seek the assistance of geneticists in cases of exposure to adverse environmental factors. In particular, these include hyper-urbanization in large industrial cities and the emergence of alternative and additional forms of communication. With the simultaneous presence of these factors, a genetic analysis should be performed on HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR4 alleles. Their carriers are more susceptible to diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure.
References
Cole, J. B., & Florez, J. C. (2021). Genetics of diabetes and diabetes complications. Nature Reviews Nephrology, 16(7), 377-390.
Kang, G. G., Francis, N., Hill, R., Waters, D., Blanchard, C., & Santhakumar, A. B. (2019). Dietary polyphenols and gene expression in molecular pathways associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(140), 1-26.