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A new study has found that exposure to arsenic and other toxic metals may speed up the onset of diabetes, presenting a significant, but often overlooked, environmental risk factor for the disease. The research, conducted by a team from the University of Illinois Chicago, was based on a cohort of over 500 Mexican Americans living in southern Texas and was published in Diabetes Care.
The findings suggest that individuals with high levels of toxic metals, such as arsenic, in their urine are likely to experience faster increases in blood sugar over time. According to lead author Margaret Weiss, these elevated levels may cause some to transition from normal blood sugar levels to prediabetes or diabetes much earlier than those with lower metal exposure.
“Environmental exposures have largely been neglected as drivers of the diabetes epidemic,” Weiss stated. “These data support using environmental policy as a new tool to mitigate the devastating burden of diabetes on individuals and society at large.”
Accelerated Onset of Diabetes
The study’s results were striking: individuals with the highest arsenic exposure were predicted to reach prediabetes status 23 months sooner and develop diabetes 65 months earlier than those with the lowest exposure. Other metals, including selenium, copper, molybdenum, nickel, and tin, were also found to accelerate blood sugar increases over a three-year period.
While all participants showed some degree of rising blood sugar, those with higher urinary levels of toxic metals exhibited more rapid changes, heightening their risk of diabetes. This trend underscores the importance of addressing environmental exposures early on, as the longer someone lives with diabetes, the more severe their complications tend to be.
“In clinical medicine, time really matters. The earlier you develop diabetes, the worse the complications are. The longer you have diabetes, the worse the complications are,” emphasized Dr. Robert Sargis, associate professor at the University of Illinois Chicago’s College of Medicine.
The Role of Toxic Metals
Although the exact mechanisms by which arsenic and other metals contribute to diabetes are not fully understood, the study sheds light on their potential role as environmental risk factors. Not all metals were associated with negative outcomes; cobalt and zinc, for example, were linked to lower blood sugar levels in participants, hinting at a possible protective effect.
The findings open the door to using environmental policy and public health interventions to reduce exposure to toxic metals, particularly in contaminated food, water, and products. By doing so, researchers hope to reduce the rising rates of diabetes.
A New Focus for Prevention
The study’s results add to growing concerns about how environmental factors contribute to the global diabetes epidemic. With an increasing focus on addressing lifestyle factors like diet and exercise, this research emphasizes the importance of considering environmental contaminants as well.
Given the potential health impact, especially on vulnerable populations, tackling these toxic exposures could play a pivotal role in reducing the burden of diabetes.
