Medical News
Large Indian study confirms air pollution raises risk of diabetes
Findings suggest cleaner air could reduce high incidence of the chronic disease
Breathing polluted air is associated with an increased risk of developing type � diabetes , according to a new study conducted in two Indian metropolises , �elhi and Chennai , plugging an important research gap as most previous studies were conducted in developed countries with less air pollution .
�esearchers analysed a group of about �� , ��� people , measuring their blood sugar levels and air pollution data from their locations over the course of seven years . It is well known that type � diabetes increases the amount of glucose , or sugar , in the blood which can potentially lead to serious health risks , including heart disease , vision loss , kidney problems , and stroke . The study results showed that every �� �g�m� increase in the yearly average of ��� . � � a widespread pollutant made of tiny particles that can enter the body through the lungs and affect all ma�or organs � led to elevated blood sugar levels and a �� percent surge in the risk for diabetes .
These findings are particularly significant in India , the eighth most polluted country in the world in ���� , according to IQAir , with an average ��� . � concentration more than �� times higher than the threshold recommended by the �orld Health �rgani�ation ( between � and � �g�m� ). The country is also plagued by a high diabetes incidence . A study published last �une in The Lancet Diabetes
& Endocrinology estimated that about ��� million Indians have the condition , while roughly ��� million are believed to have prediabetes , or high blood sugar levels that are likely to lead to the condition in the future .
��ntil now , we had assumed that diet , obesity and physical e�ercise were some of the factors e�plaining why urban Indians had higher prevalence of diabetes than rural Indians , � said �r � �ohan , chairman of the �adras �iabetes �esearch �oundation and one of the authors of the paper , according to The Guardian . “ This study is an eye-opener because now we have found a new cause for diabetes that is pollution . �
�ne hypothesis to e�plain the findings is that air pollution might cause chronic in�ammation and o�idative stress , leading to insulin resistance , the researchers wrote in BMJ . Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels , but in some cases the body can grow resistant to it , meaning that it doesn ’ t take up glucose from the blood as it normally should .
The study authors told The Guardian their findings offer some hope as they suggest reducing air pollution could contribute to a lowering of diabetes cases and improve the health of Indian people across the board . Air pollution has dramatic detrimental effects on human health , with outdoor particulate matter playing a role in the development of common deadly conditions , including strokes , heart disease , lung cancer , and acute and chronic respiratory diseases .
Until now , we had assumed that diet , obesity and physical exercise were some of the factors explaining why urban Indians had higher prevalence of diabetes than rural Indians
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