Air pollution linked to 3.2 million cases of diabetes in one year

Type 2 diabetes has always been badociated with genetic and lifestyle factors such as obesity and lack of exercise. Now, a new study has shown that air pollution, even at levels considered safe, has caused a new diabetes case out of seven in 2016.

While previous studies have suggested a link between diabetes and pollution, this study published in The Lancet Planetary Health is significant because it quantifies the burden. He estimates that pollution contributed to 3.2 million new cases of diabetes (14% of the total) in the world in 2016.

What is worrying is that 14 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are found in India, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). "Air pollution could explain diabetes in patients who follow a healthy lifestyle," said Dr. Anoop Misra of Fortis, an expert in diabetes. "US researchers have discovered that pollution causes inflammation that reduces insulin production." Dr. Misra says that Indians are more prone to inflammation than people in the West. "Combine that with air pollutants, and the risk becomes much higher, "he adds.

The country is already facing a growing incidence of diabetes. The Indian Council of Medical Research has found that prevalence has increased by 64% over the last 25 years.

Diabetologist Dr. Ambrish Mithal agrees that inflammation is one of the developmental factors of diabetes, in addition to other risk factors like poor diet, obesity and mode of sedentary life. However, he says that further studies are needed to establish the link between pollution and diabetes.

The Lancet study examined data from 1.7 million US veterans who had no history of diabetes and were followed for 8.5 years. Ziyad Al-Aly, lead author of the study, said that research has revealed increased risk even with air pollution levels currently considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA) of the United States and WHO. "This is important because many industry lobbies argue that current levels are too stringent and should be eased.The evidence shows that current levels are not yet safe enough and need to be strengthened," he said. he added.

Dr. Shashank Joshi, a Mumbai-based endocrinologist, said pollutants such as PM2.5 particles in suspension contained endocrine-disrupting chemicals. "A recent ICMR-INTAB study showed the rising rate of diabetes in cities in northern India that have a higher air pollution rate," he added.

However, Dr. Joshi did not fully agree with the Lancet study hypothesis that reducing pollution would reduce the incidence of diabetes. "The Scandinavian countries have the cleanest air and the best environmental laws and, although they do not have type 2 diabetes, they have a high incidence of type I diabetes and dementia." Other autoimmune diseases. "