An overview of environmental risk factors for type 2 diabetes research using network science tools

Objective Current studies lack a comprehensive understanding of the environmental factors influencing type 2 diabetes, hindering an in-depth grasp of the overall etiology. To address this gap, we utilized network science tools to highlight research trends, knowledge structures, and intricate relationships among factors, offering a new perspective for a profound understanding of the etiology. Methods The Web of Science database was employed to retrieve documents relevant to environmental risk factors in type 2 diabetes from 2012 to 2024. Bibliometric analysis using Microsoft Excel and OriginPro provided a detailed scientific production profile, including articles, journals, countries, and authors. Co-occurrence analysis was employed to determine the collaboration state and knowledge structures, utilizing social network tools such as Gephi, Tableau, and R Studio. Additionally, theme evolutionary analysis was conducted using SciMAT to offer insights into research trends. Results The publications and themes related to environmental factors in type 2 diabetes have consistently risen, shaping a well-established research domain. Lifestyle environmental factors, particularly diet and nutrition, stand out as the most represented and rapidly growing topics. Key focal hotspots include sedentary and digital behavior, PM 2.5 , ethnicity and socioeconomic status, traffic and greenspace, and depression. The theme evolutionary analysis revealed three distinct paths: (1) oxidative stress–air pollutants–PM 2.5 –air pollutants; (2) calcium–metabolic syndrome–cardiovascular disease; and (3) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)–persistent organic pollutants (POPs)–obesity. Conclusions Digital behavior signifies a novel approach for preventing and managing type 2 diabetes. The influence of PM 2.5 and calcium on oxidative stress and abnormal vascular contraction is intricately linked to microvascular diabetes complications. The transition from PCBs and POPs to obesity underscores the disruption of endocrine function by chemicals, elevating the risk of diabetes. Future studies should explore the connections between environmental factors, microvascular complications, and long-term outcomes in diabetes.