Air Pollution…. A Concern for Developing Type 2 Diabetes? - Diabetics Weekly

Home Latest Research Air Pollution…. A Concern for Developing Type 2 Diabetes?

Latest Research

Air Pollution…. A Concern for Developing Type 2 Diabetes?

-

September 12, 2016

Air Pollution…. A Concern for Developing Type 2 Diabetes?

In December 2015 at the climate change conference in Paris, leaders of the world were excited that nearly all the countries of the world committed to cut down their greenhouse gas emissions.

It is high time we focus on air pollution and the disastrous consequences on our planet. However, is it just our planet that is suffering? It appears our human bodies are also not immune to this pollution.

Researchers in Germany from the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) and from the HelmholtzZentrum münchen performed an analysis on 2944 participants between the years 2006 to 2008 in the region of Augsberg.

The research looked for associations between air pollution and insulin, glucose, and the levels of other indicators of diabetes (hs-CRP, HbA1C, leptin) in non-diabetic, pre-diabetic, and diabetic individuals in the 2944 participants.

“In pre-diabetic individuals, there is a strong association between air pollutant levels and the increase in insulin levels as well as insulin resistance.“

Other markers for diabetes, such as disruption of glucose metabolism, are also associated strongly with increased air pollutant levels. Non-diabetic or diabetic individuals did not appear to be affected by the elvels of air pollutants.

We feel immune to the consequence of air pollution. However, our bodies appear to be experiencing a damaging effect of pollution. Its not just lifestyle, diet, or heredity that can initiate diabetes, living in a polluted environment may potentially be another trigger for pre-diabetic individuals.

Read next article ...

THIS oil is usurping all other oils

Olive oil is struggling to keep its ground in household kitchens as it is facing a fierce competitor: coconut oil. As a matter of fact, even the famous Dr. Oz is raving about the myriad benefits of coconut oil, calling it “the miracle fat that fights fat.” (Talk about an oxymoron.) Marketers are pushing the sale of this so-called wonder oil by claiming it as “extremely healthy oil." Coconut oil advocates will probably criticize dietitians such as myself for being closed-minded and even a fool for ignoring the line-up of studies that prove the jaw-dropping health benefits of coconut oil. Before all of you coconut oil lovers start to pounce on me, hear me out. While I have yet to get into the craze of the coconut oil, I can understand the appeal of this distinctive tropical oil in cooking. However, its effect on health still puts me on the edge. (Ok, I’ll confess. I’m a die-hard olive oil fanatic.) But don’t take my word for it. In 2014, the Heart Foundation published an evidence paper titled “Coconut Oil And The Heart”. Here are some of the highlights of this must-read article that coconut lovers often failed to mention: “When compared to other fat sources, coconut oil does not raise total cholesterol (TC) and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) to the same extent as butter, but does increase TC and LDL-C levels to a greater extent than vegetable oils and is comparable to palm olein oil.” “The evidence that coconut oil is super-healthful is not convincing and these claims appear to be more testimonials than clinical evidence.” “Coconut oil, like all saturated fats, should be limited to 7%-10% of calories because it can increase the risk for heart disease.” “Like all food, if small quantities of coconut products are enjoyed in food recipes, then it is unlikely to be a problem. They need not be eliminated from the diet but should be consumed in moderation.” “Although it may be a better choice than butter, coconut oil cannot be recommended as a suitable alternative to non-hydrogenated vegetable oils.” Source: Laurence E.Coconut Oil and The Heart. Heart Foundation. URL Link. Published 2014. Accessed September 9, 2016. Bottom Line: Enjoy coconut oil in moderation, but do not fool yourself into thinking that it is better than olive oil or other unsaturated oils.