Exploring the Impact of Residential Proximity to Blue Spaces on the Occurence of Diabetes

There is a commonly held belief among surfers in the healing properties of the ocean. Many report that simply visiting a beach has a positive effect on them, whether it is spiritually, mentally, or physically. According to Sandifer et al. (2021) “evidence suggests that living close to ‘blue spaces’ (water features), particularly coastlines, has salutary effects on human health” (p. 1), highlighting a potential benefit to coastal living. For some countries across Europe and Australia, research suggests that living by the coast in Europe and Australia is associated with better health (Geiger et al., 2023). Can similar health benefits of living close to blue spaces be observed in other parts of the world? Due to a family history of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and personal prediabetes, this paper investigates how much of an impact living close to blue spaces has on the occurrence of diabetes.