title: Diabetes mellitus in the family: perceptions of offspring's risk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to explore the beliefs and concerns of people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) about their children's risk of developing the disease and the possibilities for prevention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were posted to all patients with Type 2 DM in four randomly selected general practices in South London. Two hundred and thirteen (73%) responded. The main outcome measures were: estimated risk of Type 2 DM in their offspring; worry about diabetes in their offspring; knowledge about the possibilities for prevention of Type 2 DM and its complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 159 respondents with children, at least 35% and perhaps as many as 64% underestimated the risk of their offspring developing Type 2 DM; 44% thought it possible to reduce the risk of Type 2 DM and its complications; 28% thought altering diet and 6% taking exercise might be useful preventive strategies; 49% worried about their children developing diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although risk of Type 2 DM was underestimated for their children and little was known about prevention, about half of the respondents worried about their children developing diabetes. Education and counselling about risk and prevention are needed. This is important in view of growing interest in and opportunities for both the primary and secondary prevention of Type 2 DM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hayworth
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Warburton
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bradley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009679:Nuclear Family; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires