Exposure to artificial lights could raise risk of diabetes

Diabetes is a serious, life changing condition that results in the level of sugar in your blood becoming too high. Depending on the type you have, the cause can vary. However, a new study has concluded that being exposed to outdoor artificial light at night, which includes street lights and urban light pollution, increases your risk.The paper, published in Diabetologia journal, considered the impact of outdoor artificial light at night (LAN) on blood glucose levels.How was the study conductedResearchers used data from the China Noncommunicable Disease Surveillance Study – a sample of the general population in 2010 from across 162 different areas.This included 98,658 adults – with an average age of 43 years – who took part in interviews to collect relevant demographic information.Their body mass index was also calculated and blood samples were taken to establish blood sugar levels both before and after eating.READ MORE: Acholic stools are ‘the most common’ sign of pancreatic cancer in ‘initial’ stages Outdoor artificial lights could raise your risk of diabetes (Image: Getty Images)They were then assigned an average outdoor LAN exposure level by way of image data of the Earth from the US Defense Meteorological Satellite Program – which were categorised in five groups from most exposure to least.This showed that the group with the highest exposure was linked to a relative increase in diabetes prevalence of 28 percent, compared to the lowest.High levels of outdoor LAN were also positively associated with blood glucose levels, insulin resistance and diabetes prevalence, and inversely associated with beta cell function – cells that respond to blood sugar spikes.The study explains: ‘Outdoor LAN exposure levels were positively associated with HbA1c (the amount of blood sugar attached to your haemoglobin), fasting and two hour glucose concentrations and HOMA-IR (an approximation for insulin resistance) and negatively associated with HOMA-B (an approximation of beta-cell function).tDON’T MISSThree symptoms appear before someone dies from a heart attack [STUDY]Steatorrhoea is ‘key’ symptom of pancreatic cancer [EXPERT]Nine factors that can raise your risk of ‘dangerous’ blood clots [INSIGHT] ‘Normal’ blood sugar levels are between 4.0 to 5.4 millimoles per litre (mmol/L) when fasting (Image: Getty Images) Diabetes symptoms to look out for (Image: Express.co.uk)But for those with diabetes, blood sugar level targets are four to seven mmol/L before eating.And blood sugar levels should be under nine mmol/L for people with type 1 diabetes, and under 8.5 mmol/L for people with type 2 diabetes after eating.Symptoms of diabetes can include:Peeing more than usual, particularly at nightFeeling thirsty all the timeFeeling very tiredLosing weight without trying toItching around your genitals, or repeatedly getting thrushCuts or wounds taking longer to healBlurred vision.You are also more at risk of type 2 diabetes if you:Are over 40 (or 25 for south Asian people)Have a close relative with diabetes (such as a parent, brother or sister)Are overweight or obeseAre of Asian, African-Caribbean or black African origin.