2 weeks ago
Expert Says No Established Link Between Agarbatti and Diabetes
In many Indian homes, people burn incense sticks, called agarbatti, every day.
They do this for prayer, festivals, or just to make the room smell nice.
Some people wondered whether that smoke could make them sick.
There are claims on the internet that burning agarbatti might cause diabetes.
A large number of people in India already live with diabetes, so the claims caused concern.
A doctor named Dr Rajiv Kovil, who helps people with diabetes, gave his expert opinion on the matter.
He said agarbatti is not a known or recognised reason why people get diabetes.
He explained that there is not enough proof that incense smoke causes diabetes.
So for now, experts say burning one agarbatti a day probably does not raise diabetes risk.
Burning agarbatti (incense sticks) is common in Indian homes for prayer, festivals, and fragrance.
Some unverified online claims suggest incense smoke may increase diabetes risk.
Dr Rajiv Kovil, Diabetes & Obesity Specialist at Zandra Healthcare, says agarbatti is not an established independent risk factor for diabetes.
The specialist states there is currently insufficient evidence that burning incense causes diabetes.
The report was prompted by online misinformation amid India's large diabetes population.
- Who
- Dr Rajiv Kovil, Diabetes & Obesity Specialist at Zandra Healthcare
- What
- An expert assessment of whether burning agarbatti increases diabetes risk, concluding there is no established link
- Where
- India, where agarbatti burning is common in homes
- When
- Not specified in the article
- Why
- To counter online misinformation and investigate potential links between incense smoke and diabetes
Unverified online claims
Medical expert opinion
Incense smoke and diabetes risk
Unverified online claims
Some unverified claims online suggest burning agarbatti may increase diabetes risk.
Medical expert opinion
Dr Rajiv Kovil says agarbatti is not an established or recognised independent risk factor, and there is insufficient evidence that incense burning causes diabetes.
Key facts
- Expert
- Dr Rajiv Kovil
- Expert's role
- Diabetes & Obesity Specialist, Zandra Healthcare
- Topic
- Agarbatti (incense sticks) and diabetes risk
- Medical verdict
- Agarbatti is not an established independent risk factor for diabetes
- Evidence status
- Insufficient evidence of a causal link
- Reason for report
- Combating misinformation; large diabetes population in India
- Source
- indianexpress.com
Quotes
Dr Rajiv Kovil
Diabetes & Obesity Specialist at Zandra Healthcare
“"Agarbatti is not an established or recognised independent risk factor for diabetes. There is currently insufficient evidence to say that people who burn incense develop diabetes because of it."”
indianexpress.com








