Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical commonly used in the manufacturing of plastic wares and polycarbonate goods such as water bottle and food containers. A recent study published in the journal Diabetologia has shown that exposure to BPA may increase the risk of Diabetes in people who do not have Diabetes. The study was conducted on 2336 Chinese people of age 40 years and above, who did not have Diabetes and were followed up for four years. The participants were tested for concentration of urinary BPA, fasting and post-meal blood glucose at regular intervals. The results have shown that exposure to BPA causes 3.39 per cent increase of fasting glucose and 11 per cent increased risk of beta cell dysfunction in women. Further analysis suggested that BPA may lead to reduced production of insulin (insulin is a hormone that lowers blood sugar levels). Men, however, were found to have no significant effect of BPA on their blood glucose levels.
Source: Diabetologia, 2025
