Air pollution raises risk of type 2 diabetes, says landmark Indian study

Seven-year study of 12,000 residents of Delhi and Chennai finds link between PM2.5 particles and increased blood sugar levels

Inhaling polluted air increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, the first study of its kind in India has found. Research conducted in Delhi and the southern city of Chennai found that inhaling air with high amounts of PM2.5 particles led to high blood sugar levels and increased type 2 diabetes incidence.

When inhaled, PM2.5 particles - which are 30 times thinner than a strand of hair - can enter the bloodstream and cause several respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.