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The
effects of climate change are far-reaching, but new research
suggests a surprising linkage to a warming Earth -- more
cases of type 2 diabetes. For every 1 degree rise in
environmental temperature, the researchers calculated that
there would be an increase of more than 100,000 new cases of
type 2 diabetes in the United States alone. The lead
researcher explained that during cold spells -- at least a
few cold days in a row -- so-called brown fat is activated.
Brown fat is different from white fat. When activated, it
leads to an improvement in the body's sensitivity to
insulin, a hormone that helps usher sugar from foods into
cells for energy. The function of brown fat tissue is to
burn fat to generate heat, which is important to prevent a
drop in body temperature during cold exposure, explained by
lead researcher. Before started to packing for colder
climes, it's important to note that this study cannot prove
a direct cause-and-effect relationship between warmer
temperatures and the development of type 2 diabetes. The
prevalence of type 2 diabetes is rising rapidly across the
world. In 2015, about 415 million people worldwide had the
disease, the researchers said. By 2040, that number is
expected to be as high as 642 million. In those with
pre-diabetes, the body can still keep up with demand by
producing more and more insulin. But, eventually, the body
can't keep pace and it doesn't make enough insulin to keep
blood sugar levels from rising. This is when type 2 diabetes
develops. A recent study reported that people with type 2
diabetes exposed to moderate cold for 10 days showed
improved insulin resistance, which means they're using
insulin more efficiently. This may have occurred due to an
increase in brown fat activity. Other past research showed
that brown fat is most active in the winter, when
temperatures are coldest, the lead author noted. For the new
study, investigators used information from adults in 50 U.S.
states, along with Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands. The data covered from 1996 to 2009. The lead
researcher also looked at data from the World Health
Organization on fasting blood sugar levels and obesity rates
for 190 countries.
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