Type 1 Diabetes on the Rise

28/05/2009 5:39PM

Type 1 childhood diabetes is increasing. Type 2 actually has a closer genetic connection than type 1, at least that is what one doctor told me. There was an interesting Italian study sometime ago which found that in obese individuals the risk of type 2 was 49 times higher for those in the highest 10% (I think) then the lowest group for organic pollutant measurements in their body tissues. Another study found increased complications in diabetes individuals if they lived close to a dump.

Type 1 diabetes is perceived as a Th 1 inflammatory mediated autoimmune disease, the beta cells appear particularly sensitive to oxidative attack. However the cytokine profile goes across the board. The Th 1-Th 2 stuff is useful but not the real thing. There might be an epigenetic process going on here because I recall one study which indicated that if the grandmothers had gone through a severe famine this increased the risk of diabetes but only in the grandchildren line(so far measured). I can think of two possible causes, there must be more. The point is this: Across wide populations, if we increase the potential risk factors through environmental changes, we can then create epidemics. It's a neat trick and we're pulling it off.

Strange stuff but just today I read this:

The water flea, daphnea will develop large defensive spines when predators are around. If they then reproduce, their off spring develop these spines even when not exposed to predators.



New Scientist May, 2008l p 31

There is a way to understand this but you have to give up the one gene - one protein idea. It's wrong so you may as well.

Now, speaking of persistent organic pollutants, has anyone bought any bottled water lately?



John.

Diabetes and Pollution

To yet again highlight the ever increasing dangers of pollution, this article puts forward a very worrying hypothesis that is cause for concern. This is not the first study to find a link between diabetes and pollution and it will not be the last.

Stop Killing the Frogs

There is a prevailing mythology that if bodily concentrations of a particular compound are below the "safety threshold" then no damage is being done. Even a basic understanding of biological processes should reveal how dangerous and misleading that notion is. As this recent indicates, cumulative exposure of various compounds that are well below the safety threshold for each compound are more than capable of killing amphibians. We should all be very worried about the amount of junk humanity is pouring into the environment because this has serious implications not only for the other animals but as increasing numbers of studies are indicating this also has serious implications for human health.

With Reckless Abandon We Contaminate Our Home

Yet another study has emerged indicating that reckless disregard towards the consequences of environmental pollution is a health hazard for all of us. Libertarians and their ilk may argue that property rights will afford protection against pollution but this is unmitigated piffle. Pollution does not recognise boundaries or property rights and it can take decades for the full consequences of a pollutant to become apparent. Methylmercury is an excellent example of that.