Family history contains valuable information about a person's past and future life. It can be used as a powerful screening tool to help make genetic testing decisions for you and your at-risk family members. Family history can identify potential health problems for which an individual is at increased risk later in life. With early identification, you can start taking steps to reduce your risk with things like changes in lifestyle, diet, and exercise. In many cases, simply by adopting a healthier lifestyle you can reduce the risk of diseases affecting your family. Your genetic information determines the genes you inherit that may cause or increase your risk for certain medical conditions. My family's genogram clearly indicates the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), heart disease (HD), hypercholesterolemia (HC), and hypertension (HTN). Heart disease is indicated on both maternal and paternal side and even though T2D occurs only on paternal side, other diseases like HC and HTN which are on maternal side are risk factors for developing diabetes. According to Pessoa Marinho et al. (2013), the genetic and environmental risk factors that influence the development of T2D are: “age, sex, ethnicity, family history, obesity, inactivity, gestational diabetes, macrosomia, hypertension, decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, increased triglycerides, cardiovascular disease, micropolycystic ovary syndrome, elevated blood sugar on previous tests, impaired glucose tolerance and glycated hemoglobin ≥ 5.7%” (Pessoa Marinho et al., 2013, p. 570). Bianco et al. (2013) states: “maternal influence confirms the hereditary role in the pathogenesis of diabetes that women with a positive family history of the disease presented... halfway through the article... and of developing these diseases. Although family history provides information about your risk for specific health problems, having a family history of certain medical conditions does not mean you will develop the same conditions. The disease is not imminent, by changing your lifestyle you can control your health and reduce risks by changing behaviors that increase the chances. Conclusion A family medical history can reveal the history of illnesses in your family and allow you to identify patterns that may be relevant to your life. own health. These conditions are influenced by a combination of genetic factors, environmental conditions and lifestyle choices. It is impossible to change family history or genes, but knowing that certain diseases run in your family can be an incentive to reduce any other factors that, combined, further increase your risk.