Will Falconer, DVM Moderator
I think the recessive genetics, if present in your dog, just gives a loud call to pay attention to epigenetics, which I blogged about earlier here.
Keep those genes from expressing by doing all the natural rearing this site is dedicated to teaching!
And, if any vet is ignoring the autoimmune component to DM, they need look no further than the Merck Vet Manual, now online for all to see. [Oops. Wrong. They aren't talking any more than "genetic".]
Okay, so see Dr. Roger Clemmons' site for this. He's the Florida clinician who's done a lot of work in supplementing these dogs to lengthen survival times. He's very clear: it's autoimmune.