BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care journal, the first of its kind in India, researchers have unveiled compelling evidence linking exposure to polluted air with an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes.

The study, conducted in Delhi and Chennai, highlights the profound health consequences of air pollution and its direct impact on the increasing prevalence of diabetes in the country.

The research focused on fine pollution particles known as PM2.5, which are 30 times thinner than a human hair. Inhaling air with high concentrations of PM2.5 was associated with high blood sugar levels and an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes.

While previous studies have linked fine particulate matter to cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases, most of this evidence was derived from regions with lower pollution levels. This study underscores the urgent need for research in high-pollution areas like India, where non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, are prevalent, PTI reported.

The research team, which included scientists from the Centre for Chronic Disease Control, New Delhi, assessed more than 12,000 men and women between 2010 and 2017. Participants' blood sugar levels were monitored periodically during this period.

Satellite data and air pollution exposure models were employed to gauge the air quality in the vicinity of each participant.

The study revealed that just one month of exposure to PM2.5 resulted in increased blood sugar levels, while prolonged exposure of one year or more substantially raised the risk of developing diabetes.

Notably, for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) increase in the annual average PM2.5 levels in Delhi and Chennai, the risk of diabetes increased by 22%.

This study addresses a significant research gap in South Asia, where the lack of robust exposure assessment and longitudinal studies has hindered a comprehensive understanding of the diabetes burden in a highly polluted region.

The research underlines the importance of developing region-specific and population-specific policies to combat air pollution and mitigate the growing diabetes crisis in India.

"The findings add to the existing evidence from low-pollution scenarios in the Western population," the researchers noted. "The combined evidence provides directions for devising and implementing region-specific and population-specific policies. These policies can be targeted towards reducing ambient air pollution to counter the high burden of diabetes to achieve significant population-level public health gains."

The team of researchers included experts from various institutions, such as the Public Health Foundation of India, Harvard University, Emory University in the United States, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, and the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation in Chennai. This collaborative effort promises to pave the way for more effective strategies to combat air pollution and its adverse effects on public health.