India, Dec. 17 -- With Delhi's air quality index once again hitting alarming levels, the health fallout extends far beyond irritated eyes and breathing difficulties. Prolonged exposure to polluted air can quietly disrupt metabolic function, throwing blood sugar regulation off balance and worsening diabetes control. For people living with diabetes or pre-diabetes, poor air quality can interfere with insulin action, elevate stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, and trigger unexpected glucose spikes - making pollution an often-overlooked but serious metabolic risk factor.

Dr Shovana Veshnavi, Principal Consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Noida, and a specialist in diabetes managemen...