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Climate Change is Causing Diabetes?

The British Medical Journal (not The Onion) reports that global warming is linked to type 2 diabetes, speculating that the mechanism is brown adipose fat, based on a few small association studies that sound like they didn't have a control group. The media are repeating the story without a hint a skepticism. What could possibly be wrong with a hypothesis that an imperceptible change in the climate could be causing high blood sugar levels?


  • Human evolution began in equatorial Africa--a warm climate. According to migration maps, all of our ancestors were in warm climates until around 40,000 years ago.
  • Comparing diabetes maps of the US and the world with average temperatures, diabetes doesn't look like it relates to hot regions.
  • Most people are indoors most of the time--and almost all of us have air conditioning. In fact, the number of households with air conditioning has gone up in line with diabetes. Maybe that's the cause (not really).



Stumped? Consider what diabetes use to be called: "sugar diabetes." To avoid diabetes, avoid sugar (and starch, which quickly turns into sugar in your body). Eat adequate protein and enough fat to feel full instead. Track your blood sugar after meals. 

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Lowcarb team member said…
"Consider what diabetes use to be called: "sugar diabetes." To avoid diabetes, avoid sugar (and starch, which quickly turns into sugar in your body). Eat adequate protein and enough fat to feel full instead. Track your blood sugar after meals."

Makes perfect sense to me ...

All the best Jan 
March 26, 2017
Lori Miller said…
Thanks, Jan. Sorry it took so long to publish your comment. Sometimes comments show up in my email, sometimes they don't.
March 27, 2017
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