Type 2 diabetes is a disease where the body has trouble managing its levels of blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes occurs when our bodies stop responding to insulin, which is an important hormone for controlling blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes can be hard to detect early but often involves symptoms like fatigue, increased hunger and thirst, and frequent infections (1). Scientists have been studying the causes of diabetes for decades. While people can inherit type 1 diabetes  genetically and type 2 diabetes has long been associated with diet and exercise, research suggests that our environment can contribute to  your risk of getting type 2 diabetes as well. The article of focus today reviews a large body of research to identify some of the main contributors to type 2 diabetes that come from our surroundings (2).

Research has consistently found that cities and towns that are more difficult to walk in have higher rates of diabetes. This is also true for cities and towns with less green space.  This is because low physical activity is a major cause of type 2 diabetes. When there are less sidewalks where people can walk safely or parks where people can exercise, people get less physical activity. When people get less physical activity, insulin becomes less effective in the body, and when people don’t get enough physical activity over long periods of time, it can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes. The good news is that getting enough physical activity each day can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Doctors recommend getting 30 minutes of exercise every day. Of course, the more complicated step is for towns and cities to make more places for people to walk and exercise.

Another environmental factor that causes diabetes is air pollution. Air pollution can have many negative effects on the body, such as increasing inflammation and damaging blood vessels. These negative effects can weaken insulin’s power to control blood sugar. Sure enough, research shows that cities with more air pollution have higher rates of type 2 diabetes among residents.

A third major factor that is related to diabetes is poverty. Previous research has repeatedly shown that poorer areas have higher rates of type 2 diabetes. The relationship between poverty and diabetes is complicated because poverty can lead to diabetes in many different ways. For example, poverty can make it more difficult for people to afford healthy food. Poverty is even related to more air pollution and less walking space since poorer neighborhoods are often near industrial areas. However, the main way in which poverty increases peoples’ risk for diabetes is through stress. Living in poverty makes people more likely to experience chronic stress. Chronic stress can lead to inflammation and eventually contribute to type 2 diabetes.

The researchers conclude that these are the most consistent environmental causes of type 2 diabetes. There are many other factors that can increase your chances of developing  type 2 diabetes, such as not getting enough nutritious food. However, a lack of walking space, air pollution, and poverty are the most consistent environmental contributors to type 2 diabetes. The best thing that residents can do to reduce their risk of getting type 2 diabetes is to get lots of physical exercise and eat healthy. City officials should focus on efforts to reduce air pollution, create more safe walking and recreation places, and increase economic opportunities for residents.

You can learn more about type 1 and type 2 diabetes at the American Diabetes Association and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Insulin – Insulin is a hormone that helps our bodies control blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes is a disease where insulin doesn’t work as well as it should.

Type 1 Diabetes – This is a genetic condition where a person’s body has stopped creating the insulin needed to regulate their blood sugar. Individuals with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin injections or use an insulin pump every day.

Type 2 Diabetes – This is an acquired condition where a person’s body has become resistant to insulin which makes it more difficult for their body to regulate their blood sugar effectively. If not managed, the high blood sugar levels from this condition can lead to more serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, or even death.

1. CDC. (2022, March 2). Diabetes Symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/symptoms.html
2. Beulens, J. W. J., et al. (2022). Environmental risk factors of type 2 diabetes—An exposome approach. Diabetologia, 65(2), 263–274. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-021-05618-w