Blog | Optimal DX | Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis Software

The Connection between Industrial Chemicals & Diabetes

Written by ODX Admin | Jan 2, 2024 9:47:28 PM

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:

T2DM or Insulin Resistance

Sources

POPs

Food (animal fats, fish)

Dioxin

Agent Orange (Vietnam War)

Arsenic

Drinking water, food (fruit juice, rice)

BPA

Polycarbonate plastics, canned food, thermal paper, dental sealants

Phthalates

PVC plastics, cosmetics, medical equipment

Traffic-related air pollution

Residential proximity to traffic

Agricultural pesticides

Applying pesticides

Brominated flame retardants

Consumer products, furniture, electronics

Cadmium

Food (oysters, oilseeds, offal), tobacco

T1DM or Autoimmunity

 

Nitrite/nitrate/nitrosamines

Processed meat, drinking water, cosmetics

Air pollutants ozone and sulfate

Ambient air

PCBs

Food (animal fats, fish)

Mercury

Fish

Trichloroethylene

Drinking water, occupational.

GDM or Impaired Glucose Tolerance During Pregnancy

 

Agricultural pesticides

Applying/mixing pesticides

Arsenic

Drinking water

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