Blake Medical Center

Smoking and Diabetes

Smoking is never a healthy choice, but it’s an especially poor decision when it comes to diabetes. Smoking both raises your risk of developing diabetes and increases your odds of experiencing complications from the disease.

The Risk of Developing Diabetes
Some of the risk factors for developing diabetes are beyond your control, including family history, ethnic background, and age. However other risk factors, such as smoking, come down to a matter of choice. A smoker is more likely to develop diabetes than a non-smoker, much more likely. According to the American Heart Association and a study published in The Journal of Epidemiology, someone who smokes between 16 and 25 cigarettes a day (approximately ¾ to a pack of cigarettes daily), is three times more likely to develop diabetes than a nonsmoker.

The Risk of Complications from Diabetes
If you already have diabetes, smoking increases your risk for complications, including heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, eye disease, vascular disease and nerve damage, as well as the severity of those complications. In fact, according to the American Diabetes Association, a person who has diabetes and smokes is three times more likely to die of heart disease than a nonsmoker. Some people with diabetes are worried that if they stop smoking, they’ll gain weight. While this is of concern, as being overweight also increases the likelihood of developing complications, the risk is far less than the risk posed by smoking.

How to Quit Smoking
Resources for kicking the habit range from patches and gums, to nasal sprays and support groups. Talk with your doctor, or get information about how to quit from Nicotine Anonymous, the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association and other organizations. Quitting smoking is an important step in managing diabetes and enjoying good health for years to come.

At Blake Medical Center, we offer a Diabetes Self-Management Education program. To learn more about this program, call 941-798-6135. You can also visit us online or call Consult-A-Nurse ® at 1-888-359-3552 for a physician referral.

Sources:

Diabetes Basics (American Diabetes Association)

Understand Your Risk for Diabetes (American Heart Association)

The Journal of Epidemiology

Related Posts:

Are You Still Smoking?

Be Smart for Your Heart

Diabetes 101

Tags: Blake Medical Center, diabetes, hospitals Bradenton, smoking, tobacco