No doubt, humans are best known for their ability to talk and share their emotions with the people close to them. While these traits make us unique and superior to other animals, it can be a reason for diabetes too. In a very recent study, the researchers found that knowing your partner’s diabetes diagnosis can increase your risk by more than ten folds. Interestingly, the risk continues even years after the initial diagnosis.

The surprising results came out after the analysis of millions of data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KNPC). The data used in the study were from 2007 to 2011. Importantly, the study compared the risk between two groups of people.

First, those people whose partners have had the diagnosis in the previous year or in some cases, up to three years in the past. The next group consisted of the people whose partners were never diagnosed with the condition.

Partner’s Diabetes Diagnosis and Your Risk: What Did the Study Find?

The results of the study are unbelievable. Yet, it is sure to create ripples in the scientific community as well as among the common people.

• Spouses of the persons with a recent diagnosis of diabetes may be ten times more likely to develop the same condition when compared to those with no such diagnosis in their spouses.
• The high risk persists for more than three years after the diagnosis.
• Most notably, the researchers found that it’s not only the risk that’s elevated. In fact, the first group of the people also exhibited a faster rate of diabetes development. Meaning, your diabetes develops faster if your partner is recently diagnosed.

What Does It Mean to Your Health If Your Partner Has Been Recently Diagnosed With Diabetes?

It’s as simple as that. If your partner has had a recent diagnosis, get yourself checked for the condition as well.

Originally published at diabeticsweekly.com