Diabetes is also triggered by a bad air

About 6.7 million Germans suffer from diabetes. And there are more and more everyday. In addition to sugar, obesity and lack of exercise, US scientists now want to find another trigger for diabetes: stale air

Environmental pollutants in the air cause respiratory infections such as lung cancer. According to this estimate, researchers at the Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri: "The pollution in 2016 contributed to 3.2 million new cases of diabetes worldwide, which corresponds to about 14% of new case, "write the authors. from the study published in the journal "The Lancet Planetary Health."

Researchers badyzed data from 1.7 million American veterans. At the beginning of the study, study participants did not have diabetes yet. The number of new cases over the next eight years was then linked to PM data. Finally, veterans living in areas with high particulate matter were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

More Particles, More Diabetes

Diabetes became more prevalent, with even lower particles at the particle level Limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). PM2.5 concentrations in the respiratory air were measured. Particulate matter PM2.5 is a small particle with a diameter of 2.5 microns. Each increase in fine dust concentration of 10 microns per cubic meter of respiratory air was badociated with a 15% increase in the risk of diabetes. The higher the exposure to particles, the higher the risk of diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus type 2 (diabetes mellitus) is a metabolic disease that causes the accumulation of sugar in the blood. , Diabetes can be very different: after the diagnosis, some people need few changes in their life. Even a small weight loss and a little more exercise are enough for him to control his diabetes. Other people with type 2 diabetes need permanent treatment with tablets or insulin. For them, understanding their condition and knowing what they can do for their own health is particularly important.

There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in childhood or on. Type 1 diabetes occurs because the pancreas is damaged and produces little or no insulin.

Source: Institute for Quality and Effectiveness of Health Care (IQWiG)

Car exhaust gases could interfere with insulin production. Previous studies have shown that particles can affect glucose metabolism in the liver. The smallest particles enter our bloodstream through the airways and can cause various damage to the body. "It can be badumed that pollution reduces the production of insulin and causes inflammation that prevents the conversion of glucose from blood into energy," Missouri researchers write.

More and more people are suffering from diabetes

The disorder of sugar metabolism is one of the diseases of civilization. Health experts warn of the global rise. Each year, there are approximately 300,000 more people who develop diabetes – usually it's type 2 diabetes. The "dark figure" is estimated at 2 million people.