Led by Icahn School of Medicine researchers at Mount Sinai in New York and published in the eClinicalMedicine journal, this study is said to be the most comprehensive on the subject to date, examining not only diabetes diagnoses but also underlying biological markers such as insulin resistance and insulin secretion across different stages of life. The strongest and most consistent associations were seen during pregnancy, while evidence linking PFAS exposure to type 1 or type 2 diabetes remained inconclusive.
PFAS are found in everyday products including food packaging, non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foams, and they accumulate in the body over time. Previous studies on PFAS and diabetes have produced mixed results, but this review went further by analyzing continuous clinical markers that often precede disease. The authors highlight pregnancy as a particularly sensitive window, suggesting that PFAS exposure may disrupt metabolic processes at a time when insulin regulation is already under strain.
The findings have important clinical and public-health implications, as gestational diabetes raises the risk of pregnancy complications and increases the likelihood that both mother and child will develop type 2 diabetes later in life. The researchers argue that environmental chemical exposures should be considered as part of routine risk assessment and preventive care, especially before and during pregnancy.
To check out Dr. Rath’s Cellular Health recommendations for diabetes, see this page on our website.
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January 23, 2026Exposure to ‘Forever Chemicals’ Linked to Higher Risk of Gestational Diabetes
News
Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of highly persistent environmental chemicals commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” is associated with a higher risk of gestational diabetes mellitus and altered markers of insulin resistance and insulin secretion, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis.
[Source: medicalxpress.com]
[Image source: Freepik]
Comment
Led by Icahn School of Medicine researchers at Mount Sinai in New York and published in the eClinicalMedicine journal, this study is said to be the most comprehensive on the subject to date, examining not only diabetes diagnoses but also underlying biological markers such as insulin resistance and insulin secretion across different stages of life. The strongest and most consistent associations were seen during pregnancy, while evidence linking PFAS exposure to type 1 or type 2 diabetes remained inconclusive.
PFAS are found in everyday products including food packaging, non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foams, and they accumulate in the body over time. Previous studies on PFAS and diabetes have produced mixed results, but this review went further by analyzing continuous clinical markers that often precede disease. The authors highlight pregnancy as a particularly sensitive window, suggesting that PFAS exposure may disrupt metabolic processes at a time when insulin regulation is already under strain.
The findings have important clinical and public-health implications, as gestational diabetes raises the risk of pregnancy complications and increases the likelihood that both mother and child will develop type 2 diabetes later in life. The researchers argue that environmental chemical exposures should be considered as part of routine risk assessment and preventive care, especially before and during pregnancy.
To check out Dr. Rath’s Cellular Health recommendations for diabetes, see this page on our website.
Dr. Rath Health Foundation
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