Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and Exposure to Suspended Particulate Matter

Background. Evidence from various epidemiological studies has shown an association between particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and diabetes mellitus. A prospective study from the United States reported that exposure to PM2.5 alters endothelial function, and leads to insulin resistance and reduction in peripheral glucose uptake. There is a paucity of data on the relation between air pollution and diabetes in low- and middle-income countries. Objectives. To estimate the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among people living in areas with higher exposures of suspended PM2.5 compared to people living in areas with lower exposures in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out in two areas of Chennai city. The PM2.5 affecting vulnerable areas were stratified from a list of air quality monitoring stations in Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and Central Pollution Control Board. The highest and lowest areas of exposure were selected from the list. Households were randomly selected for the study. A total of 201 (67 male, 134 female) individuals from a high exposure area (HEA) and 209 (76 male 133 female) individuals from a low exposure area (LEA) were recruited for the study. Adults over 18 years of age were screened for random capillary blood glucose (RCBG) by glucometer (OneTouch Ultra). Results. The prevalence of diabetes (34.8% vs 19.6% p =0.001) was 77.5% higher among people living in areas of high particulate matter exposure compared to people living in less exposed areas. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that age, gender, residential area, and family history of diabetes were significantly associated with the prevalence of diabetes (p<0.05). Conclusions. The present study indicates a link between high levels of exposure to PM2.5 and diabetes mellitus. Further prospective studies on populations exposed to elevated pollution are needed to establish whether this association has a causative link. Participant Consent. Obtained Ethics Approval. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Prof. M Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre, Chennai, India Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.