Evidence suggests role for chemicals in diabetes

"Evidence strongly suggests that some chemicals, especially chemicals in cigarette smoke, might cause some cases of diabetes and obesity, U.S. government researchers said. A committee appointed by the National Toxicology Program went through studies looking at links between diabetes and obesity and chemicals such as arsenic, chemicals found in plastic, pesticides and cigarette smoke. "Some of these associations are pretty strong," said Michael Gallo of the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, who led a two-day workshop in North Carolina that ended on Thursday. Especially strong was the link between smoking while pregnant and a child's later risk of becoming obese and developing type-2 diabetes. "It is consistent with our understanding of how diabetes and obesity develop," Gallo told reporters. When a pregnant woman smokes, the baby is often underweight at birth. This can set up a chain of mechanisms that lead to obesity later, which in turn can cause type-2 diabetes. Gallo and others stressed that at least 70 percent of cases of obesity and diabetes are caused directly by eating poorly and exercising too little. But some cases of diabetes, especially in fit, lean people, are harder to explain"