Toxic Chemicals Promoting Type 1
Rates of Type 1 are growing simply as quick as Type 2, although without all the publicity. With Type 2, “experts” are blaming lifestyles and bad food, but they state nearly nothing about Type 1’s ongoing epidemic.
In reality, it appears that ecological pollution is a major factor in both (all) types of diabetes. There is more similarity in between types than we had thought. In Type 1 diabetes, the beta cells in the pancreas do not produce insulin. However in Type 2, there likewise is evidence of decreased beta cell mass and function.
In both Type 1 and Type 2, beta cells pass away, typically from apoptosis, or set cell death, although the mechanisms might be somewhat various.
And, states Sarah Howard, MS, National Coordinator of the Diabetes and Obesity project of the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE), “there is growing evidence that body immune system problems may play a role in Type 2, not only Type 1… Fifteen to thirty-five percent of Type 2 patients diagnosed prior to age 45 test positive for antibodies to [glutamic acid decarboxylase or] GAD.” GAD antibodies are a major sign of Type 1, since they suggest the immune system is assaulting beta cells.
So what is triggering these beta cell deaths in all diabetes types? Chemicals could play a major part:
• The first ones recognized as potential threats were nitrates and nitrites, the ingredients you see listed on processed meats. The diabetes link was found in Iceland. Prior to nitrates and nitrites were made in factories, it was standard in Iceland to eat a lot of smoked lamb at the holiday. After the smoking and curing became available in bottles in the 1940’s, researchers kept in mind that boys born in October (who were developed during the time of the chemically-smoked lamb eating) began having extremely high rates of Type 1.
Ever since, the link has been confirmed in a number of research studies in mice and a few in children. The risk is for children of individuals consuming nitrates, not the adult consumers themselves. Fathers’ usage of nitrates/nitrites is simply as much a risk as mothers’.
See also: Diabetes in Children: Symptoms, Complications, Treatment
The main source of human direct exposure to these nitrogen compounds is via food. But you can also get them from cigarettes, car interiors, and cosmetics.
• Air pollutants: Air pollutants are some of the only environmental pollutants that have been directly studied in relation to Type 1 diabetes. A big research study in southern California found that children exposed to high levels of ozone and sulfate in the air had nearly triple the Type 1 risk of controls.
Remarkably, while the pollutants nitrogen dioxide and particulate matters have been highly related to Type 2, they do not appear to impact Type 1. Only ozone and sulfates have shown that effect, however not much research has been done.
• Trichloroethylene (TCE): The CHE Web site reports, “(TCE) is an industrial solvent and ecological pollutant, commonly found in hazardous waste websites. Although most of the research studies have actually remained in mice, Dan Hurley writes in his book Diabetes Rising that consistent findings of studies and the resemblances between studies in mice and people support the concept that TCE may cause autoimmune disease. Bear in mind that Type 1 is thought to be “autoimmune,” meaning that the body’s immune cells cause the damage by assaulting healthy beta cells.”
Exposure can occur via drinking water, food, or air, or in occupational settings. TCE can get in the body by consuming contaminated water, and from showering in it, both by absorption through the skin or via inhalation. Once again, more research is required, however we don’t see drug business, chemical companies, or federal governments hurrying to do these research studies.
• Heavy Metals include mercury, lead, or cadmium. Arsenic is a metal that is not quite so heavy, however likewise harmful.
One research study of 76 children with Type 1 in Pakistan discovered that moms and children both had higher levels of lead, arsenic, and cadmium in their blood than did controls without diabetes.
Mercury is really prevalent in modern societies. Some Taiwanese research studies have actually revealed that mercury damages beta cell function and frequently eliminates them, at levels close to the legally allowable limits.
So environmental contamination perhaps adds to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes through worrying beta cells, triggering swelling, promoting insulin resistance, disrupting endocrine glands, disrupting gene expression, hindering the body immune system, and promoting autoimmunity, to name a few methods. It also seems that chemical exposure promotes weight gain and obesity.
