The University of Leicester in the United Kingdom have found that there may be a link between areas of high air pollution and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study, published in the Environmental International journal, examined peoples’ risks of developing diabetes based on their exposure to air pollution. The researchers also took into consideration individuals’ lifestyles and their personal risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Air pollution risk

Global air pollution is on the rise, even as some countries closely monitor their air pollution in and around their major metropolitan areas. Other developed countries, like the UK, have very few air pollution monitoring stations despite the fact that more people are moving into urban areas.

The study conducted at the University of Leicester took air pollution data and observed nearly 10,000 volunteers with and without diabetes. The research showed that high air pollution and low levels of physical activity have an impact on levels of Type 2 diabetes in specific areas, such as cities where air pollution rates are often higher.

Further research

Chemicals and other material commonly found in air pollution can cause insulin resistance in humans, which can influence how diabetes develops in a person’s body over the course of a few months or years. Air pollution can also cause respiratory difficulties and put a strain on the human body in a variety of other ways. Although air pollution isn’t the only cause of Type 2 diabetes, it can be a factor when combined with a lack of exercise, an unhealthy diet, and additional predetermined health factors.