Publication Date: 8/1/2004
Remember that the information presented here is not intended to replace the care of your own doctor. Before making any changes in the management of your own illness, you should consult your physician or other qualified medical professionals.
Question
I have type 2 diabetes, and my grandmother had type 1. In addition, I was in Vietnam and exposed to Agent Orange which they now say can cause diabetes. Is there any connection?Answer
The fact that your grandmother had type 1 diabetes is probably a coincidence in your developing type 2 diabetes.However, your exposure to "Agent Orange" (which contained dioxin) is another story. There's very strong evidence that exposure to Agent Orange increases the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. See dioxin and diabetes for more details and links to other websites with information on the issue.
