Does Air Pollution Increase the Risk of Diabetes?

That's what some experts believe. In recent years, health professionals have sounded the alarm regarding the potential health effects of air pollution. As airborne particulate matter continues to increase, there's a growing concern for increased rates of disease and illness. Now, there's new evidence suggesting that air pollution contributes to diabetes.

Statistics show that roughly 30.3 million Americans -- 9.4% of the population -- suffers from type 1 diabetes. Characterized by the body's inability to produce insulin or produce enough insulin, it's a serious condition that can lead to other problems when left unchecked. Many factors play a role in diabetes, one of which is diet. People who consume starchy, sugary foods on a regular basis are more likely to develop diabetes than their counterparts who follow a healthy diet consisting of lean meats, complex carbs are little or no processed sugar. This new study, however, suggests that exposure to air pollution may also increase the risk of diabetes.

The study, published in the medical journal Lancet Planetary Health, found that air pollution played a role in more than 3.2 million new cases of diabetes in 2016. Here in the United States, it was linked to about 150,000 new cases. This begs the question: How does air pollution contribute to diabetes exactly?

Researchers say that particulate matter in air pollution -- micro-sized particles of dirt and soot -- act as a catalyst for diabetes. When inhaled, these particles wreak havoc on a person's health, causing certain biochemical changes in the body that ultimately lead to disease and illness.

One of the study's lead authors explained that in the past it was believed that air pollution has been linked to other health ailments like stroke and heart disease, and this latest study now links exposure to air pollution to diabetes.

"We now know that air pollution is a very important cause of heart disease and stroke and contributes to chronic lung disease, lung cancer and chronic kidney disease," said one of the study's lead researchers. "There's an undeniable relationship between diabetes and and particle air pollution levels well below the current safe standards."

You can't always protect yourself from air pollution. If you live in a major city, you will inevitably be exposed to polluted air. There are ways to mitigate the health effects of air pollution, however. First, limit the amount of time you spend outdoors when the smog is high. Second, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Fruits and vegetables are important because they provide your body with antioxidants that fight free radicals in air pollution.