Extreme heat linked to diabetes in pregnant women, thyroid disorders: Study

There are links between extreme temperatures and gestational diabetes in pregnant women, as well as between heat and thyroid disorders.

This is according to studies carried out in recent years that have examined the effect heat has on hormones – the chemicals that coordinate and affect hundreds of bodily processes. 

Hormones, from insulin to oestrogen, play a role in nearly all biological functions, including blood sugar control and fertility, and all key life stages such as puberty and pregnancy.

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Scientists from Singapore and Britain, who recently concluded a review of medical research since the 1940s, found evidence of heat affecting hormones and the endocrine system – the system in charge of creating and releasing those hormones.

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