Diabetes is expected to affect 552 million individuals worldwide by the year 2030. Although diabetes is often associated with being overweight or obese, at least 20% of those diagnosed are not overweight or obese.
Researchers are looking at environmental chemicals (ECs) as a possible cause, considering the increase in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes correlates with the dramatic increase in chemical exposure since World War 2.
Many industrial chemicals that end up in the environment act as endocrine disruptors (EDCs). This fact likely explains their potential effects on hormone action and diabetes development over the lifespan. These chemicals can be toxic to beta cells and alter immune competence and function.
Many EDCs are fat-soluble. They are stored in adipose tissue and released during weight loss.
Lifestyle interventions can reduce exposure, including avoiding animal fats, mercury-contaminated seafood, and EDC-containing cans, cosmetics, and plastics.
Specific chemicals associated with diabetes in humans include:
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T2DM or Insulin Resistance
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Sources
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POPs
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Food (animal fats, fish)
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Dioxin
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Agent Orange (Vietnam War)
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Arsenic
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Drinking water, food (fruit juice, rice)
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BPA
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Polycarbonate plastics, canned food, thermal paper, dental sealants
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Phthalates
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PVC plastics, cosmetics, medical equipment
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Traffic-related air pollution
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Residential proximity to traffic
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Agricultural pesticides
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Applying pesticides
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Brominated flame retardants
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Consumer products, furniture, electronics
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Cadmium
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Food (oysters, oilseeds, offal), tobacco
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T1DM or Autoimmunity
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Nitrite/nitrate/nitrosamines
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Processed meat, drinking water, cosmetics
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Air pollutants ozone and sulfate
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Ambient air
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PCBs
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Food (animal fats, fish)
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Mercury
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Fish
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Trichloroethylene
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Drinking water, occupational.
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GDM or Impaired Glucose Tolerance During Pregnancy
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Agricultural pesticides
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Applying/mixing pesticides
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Arsenic
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Drinking water
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Optimal Takeaways
Evaluating an individual's exposure to these chemicals should be part of every comprehensive clinical assessment.
Evaluate intake or exposure to:
- Animal fats
- Air pollution
- Agent Orange
- Cadmium in oysters, oilseeds, offal, tobacco
- Drinking water containing arsenic, trichloroethylene, nitrite/nitrate/nitrosamines
- Flame retardants
- Fruit juice
- Pesticides
- Processed meat
- Phthalates in PCV plastic, medical equipment, cosmetics
- Rice (predominantly brown rice)
Reference
Sargis, Robert M et al. “THE DIABETES EPIDEMIC: Environmental Chemical Exposure in Etiology and Treatment.” San Francisco medicine vol. 85,5 (2012): 18-20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/24771962/
Also, check out ODX articles on
Arsenic
Diabetes and Pesticides
Nutrition Support of Metabolic Detoxification
