A new study published in Diabetologia found that exposure to outdoor artificial light at night (LAN) is linked to an elevated risk of diabetes.

In contemporary civilizations, exposure to artificial LAN at night is a common environmental risk factor that has been shown to affect circadian rhythm, posing numerous health risks. According to experts, although more than 80% of people on the planet are exposed to light pollution at night, scientists have only recently begun to pay more attention to this issue.

The study used data from 98,658 participants from the China Non-communicable Disease Surveillance Study. Blood samples were taken to measure levels of fasting serum glucose postprandial (after meal) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). The family history was recorded, and BMI was calculated.

Using US Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) nighttime low-light imaging data of the Earth′s surface, participants at each study site were given an average simulated outdoor LAN exposure level. The five quintiles of exposure levels were arranged from lowest to highest, with the median light intensity in the highest quintile being 69 times higher than in the lowest.

According to the study, areas with the highest quintile of LAN exposure had a relatively 28% higher prevalence of diabetes than those with the lowest quintile. Even after controlling for several significant diabetes risk variables, chronic exposure to residential outdoor LAN was inversely linked with beta cell function and favorably associated with blood glucose levels, insulin resistance, and diabetes prevalence.

These results add to the growing evidence suggesting that LAN exposure poses health risks and may be a potential risk factor for diabetes. However, more research is required to determine whether this association is causal.

(Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/exposure-to-artificial-light-at-night-is-associated-with-risk-of-diabetes-study-101668662244422.html)