A recent study done on mice gives a possible explanation for the increase in diabetes worldwide. In my post on June 14, I mentioned this study on the effects of plastic on insulin resistance. The researchers found that an ingredient in plastic, that mimics the effects of estrogen, can lead to insulin resistance in mice.

The study states this ingredient of plastic, bisphenol-A, is widely used in a variety of settings and that humans are exposed to this harmful ingredient on a regular basis. The fact that this leads to insulin resistance is scary. It is very frightening to think that exposure to everyday substances can lead to illnesses. Oh, wait! Exposure to harmful substances lead to illnesses every day. We are so used to hearing about these things that this is not truly scary, just mildly interesting.

It is up to us to be vigilant about what we put in our bodies and what we are exposed to. What makes this study interesting, is that bisphenol-A is found in such a wide array of products, which we can not completely avoid. It would be interesting to see further studies on this, as it is not conclusive, but I certainly will be more aware about my exposure to plastic.