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Plasticizing Diabetes Care: The Metabolic Threat of Plastic-Associated Endocrine Disruptors and Micro-/Nanoplastics in Clinical Medicine
Summary
This review paper looks at how the plastic used in diabetes supplies—like insulin pumps, tubing, and glucose monitors—may expose patients to chemicals and tiny plastic particles that can disrupt hormones and worsen metabolic health. While scientists don't yet know exactly how much these plastics contribute to diabetes risk, the research suggests it's a bigger concern than most people realize, and reducing plastic exposure in medical care could benefit both patients and the environment.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Diabetes care is characterized by the widespread use of plastics. With plastic-associated endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) implicated in diabetes pathogenesis, this review examines how medical plastics relate to diabetes and related disorders and proposes interventions to improve the situation. RECENT FINDINGS: Plastic-associated EDCs and micro-/nanoplastics (MNPs) are linked to metabolic dysfunction. Medical care exposes patients to these agents; however, the precise contribution of diabetes care to these exposures and their associated adverse health effects remains poorly defined. Diabetes care is an increasingly important contributor to plastic pollution and climate change, yet inadequate systems exist to mitigate its environmental impact. Plastic-associated EDCs and MNPs remain an underappreciated metabolic health threat. Mitigating the deleterious impacts of plastics on human and planetary health requires concerted actions from manufacturers, scientists, policymakers, professional organizations, healthcare providers, and patients. Doing so has the potential to improve metabolic health and promote health equity.