The Link Between Our Modern Diseases: Diabetes, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Environmental Toxins

The Link Between Our Modern Diseases: Diabetes, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Environmental Toxins

Updated Version - 2025

Personal Experience: The Toxic Cocktail of My Childhood

When I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, I couldn't help but connect the dots back to my early years. I didn’t just grow up near cornfields that were heavily sprayed with glyphosate—this toxic chemical was in my food, my water, and even my daily breakfast.

Every morning, I unknowingly consumed glyphosate in:

☠️ Milk – from cows fed genetically modified corn and soy, both loaded with glyphosate.

☠️ Oats – a staple breakfast that, despite being marketed as “healthy,” was heavily contaminated.

It wasn’t just glyphosate—it was also the chronic stress in my household. The environment I lived in wasn’t just physically toxic; it was emotionally exhausting. The stress, the anxiety, the lack of safety in my own home—it all created the perfect storm for autoimmune dysfunction.

I believe my exposure to environmental toxins + relentless stress + genetic predisposition were the trigger that tipped my immune system over the edge, leading to my diagnosis. And I’m not alone.

The Link Between Disease and Glyphosate

Research continues to uncover how glyphosate exposure contributes to modern diseases, including:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Diabetes (Type 1 & Type 2)
• Cancer
• Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
• Neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s & Alzheimer’s

Autism, Diabetes, and the Immune System

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are increasingly linked to immune system dysfunction, including:

• Neuroinflammation
• Autoantibodies attacking brain tissue
• Cytokine imbalances causing chronic inflammation

A 2023 Healthline study found that:

📌 Individuals with autism have a 57% higher risk of developing diabetes.

📌 The risk increases to 64% for Type 1 diabetes.

📌 And a staggering 146% for Type 2 diabetes.

Both ASD and Type 1 diabetes involve autoimmune dysfunction, often set in motion by environmental triggers.

The Role of Glyphosate in Modern Diseases

Dr. Zach Bush and other leading researchers argue that both Type 1 diabetes and ASD share similar molecular pathways, with beta cell destruction triggered by autoimmune dysfunction—a process that glyphosate directly fuels.

Endocrine Disruption and Chronic Disease

Glyphosate is everywhere. It’s not just on crops—it’s in:

⚠️ Drinking water (runoff from farms contaminates groundwater).

⚠️ Meat & dairy (livestock eat glyphosate-laden feed).

⚠️ Grains, beans, and processed foods (residue remains after spraying).

Its effects? Endocrine disruption, cancer, and metabolic disease.

Glyphosate has a half-life of 7 to 60 days in the soil, meaning it lingers long after spraying, leading to:

🔻 Persistent gut damage

🔻 Disrupted immune function

🔻 Chronic inflammation

📊 Notably, the rise in diabetes, autism, and autoimmune disorders correlates with the increased use of glyphosate over the years.

Other Endocrine Disruptors in Our Environment

While glyphosate is a major culprit, other environmental toxins also play a role, including:

🔺 BPA & Phthalates – Found in plastics, they mimic estrogen and disrupt hormone balance.

🔺 Dioxins – Byproducts of industrial processes like smelting and paper bleaching.

🔺 Atrazine & PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) – Used in pesticides, coatings, and flame retardants.

These toxins accumulate in our fat cells, disrupt hormones, and trigger inflammation, leading to chronic health conditions.

How Glyphosate Disrupts Human Health

1. Sulfate Deficiency

Sulfate is essential for:

• Detoxification
• Gut health & digestion
• Cellular repair

Glyphosate blocks sulfate metabolism, leading to:

⚠️ Neurological disorders (ADHD, ASD)

⚠️ Metabolic diseases (diabetes, obesity)

⚠️ Hormonal imbalances

2. Gut Microbiome Destruction

Glyphosate is a patented antibiotic—it kills beneficial gut bacteria, allowing harmful bacteria to overgrow, causing:

🚨 Leaky gut syndrome

🚨 Autoimmune disorders

🚨 Food sensitivities

3. Nutrient & Mineral Deficiency

Glyphosate chelates (binds to) essential minerals, including:

❌ Iron – Needed for oxygen transport

❌ Zinc – Critical for immune function

❌ Cobalt – Required for vitamin B12

It also disrupts neurotransmitter function, impairing:

🔻 Serotonin (mood regulation, sleep)

🔻 Dopamine (focus, motivation—linked to ADHD)

🔻 Tyrosine (essential for thyroid health)

4. Chronic Inflammation & Oxidative Stress

🚨 Inflammation is at the root of all modern diseases.

Chronic glyphosate exposure triggers:

🔥 Brain inflammation (linked to ASD, ADHD, and neurodegenerative diseases)

🔥 Pancreatic stress (a factor in diabetes)

🔥 Immune dysfunction (leading to autoimmune disorders)

How to Detox & Protect Yourself

While some damage may be irreversible, you CAN take proactive steps to protect yourself and your family.

1. Reduce Glyphosate Exposure

✅ Choose organic foods whenever possible.

✅ Use water filters that remove herbicides and pesticides.

✅ Support policy changes to limit herbicide use.

2. Heal Your Gut

✅ Take probiotics & prebiotics to restore gut bacteria.

✅ Avoid processed foods that fuel inflammation.

3. Support Detox Pathways

✅ Eat sulfur-rich foods (broccoli, garlic, onions, eggs).

✅ Take Epsom salt baths to replenish magnesium sulfate.

✅ Use activated charcoal & bentonite clay to bind toxins.

4. Replenish Key Nutrients

✅ Ensure adequate zinc, iron, and cobalt intake.

✅ Eat antioxidant-rich foods to fight oxidative stress.

5. Reduce Stress & Inflammation

✅ Practice yoga, meditation, or deep breathing.

✅ Get sunlight for vitamin D production & hormonal balance.

✅ Move your body—exercise is one of the best detoxifiers.

Conclusion

The link between glyphosate, chronic disease, and neuroimmune dysfunction is impossible to ignore. This toxic herbicide damages the gut, immune system, and endocrine function, contributing to the rise of diabetes, autism, ADHD, and autoimmune disorders.

But knowledge is power. By taking small but powerful steps—choosing cleaner food, supporting gut health, and reducing toxin exposure—we can protect ourselves and future generations.

📢 We deserve better than a world poisoned by chemicals. It’s time to demand change.

About the Author

Karin Collinsworth is a Public Health advocate, Diabetes Complication Prevention Coach, R_EYT Certified Yoga Therapist, and Nutritionist. She is passionate about educating others on environmental health, detoxification, and metabolic wellness.

🌱 Learn more: Linktree.com/Karin_C