Did you know that the environment can also affect diabetes?

Created By RISC | 13 hours ago

Last modified date : 13 hours ago

Many people may be unaware that diabetes is one of the world’s major non-communicable diseases (NCDs), ranking third after cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, meaning it stems from a disruption in the body’s ability to convert food into energy. Normally, the body breaks food down into glucose, which enters the bloodstream. The hormone insulin, produced by the pancreas, acts like a key allowing glucose to move into cells to be used as energy. When the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or becomes resistant to it, glucose remains in the bloodstream instead of entering the cells, leading to high blood sugar levels.

A fasting blood sugar measurement (after at least 8 hours without eating or drinking) of more than 126 mg/dL indicates diabetes. When left uncontrolled, high blood sugar can cause inflammation, damage, and eventually failure of vital organs such as the eyes, kidneys, heart, and nerves—resulting in complications like blindness, chronic kidney disease, heart attacks, or slow-healing wounds that may lead to amputation.

Types of Diabetes
✅ Type 1 Diabetes — Often diagnosed in children and adolescents. It occurs when the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Lifelong insulin therapy is required.
✅ Type 2 Diabetes — The most common type, usually seen in adults. It develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or does not produce enough. This form is strongly associated with lifestyle factors, including diets high in sugar and fat, overweight or obesity, lack of physical activity, chronic stress, and insufficient sleep.

More than 90% of people with diabetes worldwide have Type 2 diabetes, and the number continues to rise—especially in low- and middle-income countries. This trend reflects low awareness and unhealthy eating habits.

The good news is that adopting healthier daily routines can significantly reduce your risk. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), adults should consume no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day, and children or older no more than 4 teaspoons. Adults are also encouraged to exercise regularly—at least 150 minutes per week. Yet research from Thailand’s Department of Health and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) shows that Thais consume an average of 20 teaspoons of sugar per day, nearly three times the recommended amount.

Simple Tips to Prevent Diabetes
✅ The 2:1:1 Healthy Plate Rule — Divide each plate into four parts: 2 parts vegetables, 1 part grains (rice or starch), and 1 part protein.
✅ Read nutrition labels before buying food or beverages to avoid high-sugar options.

Did you also know that your environment can influence your diabetes risk?

Recent studies show that beyond lifestyle choices, environmental factors also play a meaningful role. For example:
▪ Light at Night (LAN): Exposure to light at night disrupts glucose regulation and increases diabetes risk. White light at moderate brightness (50–150 lux) causes a greater rise in blood glucose compared to dim light (5–20 lux). Consistent nighttime light exposure is linked to higher blood sugar, insulin resistance, and a greater incidence of Type 2 diabetes. Communities exposed to higher nighttime light levels show a 28% higher prevalence of diabetes than those living in darker areas.
▪ Air Pollution: Pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), tobacco smoke, and particulate matter (PM) are significantly associated with increased diabetes risk. Air pollution can alter biological markers related to inflammation, glucose regulation, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial function—all of which contribute to the development of Type 2 diabetes.

Every year, 14 November is observed as World Diabetes Day, a global effort to raise awareness about a chronic disease affecting more than 600 million people worldwide—with numbers still increasing.

Diabetes is not a disease without hope. With the right knowledge, small lifestyle adjustments, and healthier environments—including protecting your natural circadian rhythm—it can be managed and even prevented. These changes make a profound difference in long-term health for yourself and the people you love.

Content by: Supunnapang Raksawong, Sustainable Building Material Researcher

References
1. World Health Organization (WHO). Diabetes. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes
2. Siriraj Diabetes Center, Mahidol University. Healthy Plate 2:1:1. Available at: https://www.si.mahidol.ac.th/th/division/diabetes/ct_knowledgesdetail.asp?div_id=44&kl_id=34
3. Golden Jubilee Medical Center, Mahidol University. Healthy Living Made Simple: Just Cut Down on Sugar. Available at: https://www.gj.mahidol.ac.th/main/sweet/
4. Opperhuizen, A.L., Stenvers, D.J., Jansen, R.D., Foppen, E., Fliers, E., & Kalsbeek, A. (2017). Light at night acutely impairs glucose tolerance in a time-, intensity- and wavelength-dependent manner in rats. Diabetologia, 60(7), 1333–1343.
5. Zheng, R., Xin, Z., Li, M., et al. (2023). Outdoor light at night in relation to glucose homoeostasis and diabetes in Chinese adults: a national and cross-sectional study of 98,658 participants from 162 study sites. Diabetologia, 66, 336–345.
6. Li, Y., Xu, L., Shan, Z., Teng, W., & Han, C. (2019). Association between air pollution and type 2 diabetes: an updated review of the literature. Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism.