Smoking and Diabetes

Various studies have linked heavy smoking with increased chances of developing insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. The highest risk is associated with those who smoke over one pack a day (a pack contains roughly 20 cigarettes).

However, with the cessation of smoking, insulin resistance appears to gradually subside, suggesting the possibility of reversing insulin resistance prompted by smoking. Smoking also poses a danger to people with high blood pressure or who are at risk for heart disease… both of which conditions are also increasingly likely for a Type 2 diabetic.

Smoking is therefore a known risk and a highly warned against activity for pre-diabetics and those at risk for Type 2 diabetes. The likelihood increases with each additional risk factor in an individual’s medical history:

• ethnic background (African-American, Native American or Hispanic)
• age (the older the individual the higher the risk of Type 2 diabetes)
• obesity (20% or more over average body weight as determined by height/weight ratio, or as determined by a BMI evaluation)
• physical stress such as chronic illness or surgery
• alcohol use
• pancreatic injury (from infection, accident or malignancy)
• autoimmune disease
• hypertension
• high blood cholesterol
• certain medications
• family history of Type 2 diabetes (particularly if one or both parents and one or more siblings have Type 2)
• history of gestational diabetes

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We all know smoking isn’t good for our health and that it actually affects the severity of other conditions. In addition, it often creates new complications as a result. But how does it affect someone with diabetes, be it Type 1 or Type 2?

From a blood sugar standpoint: Smoking causes blood sugar levels to shoot up, elevating them unnecessarily without the assistance of food. Smoking has undeniably been tied to diabetes because of its propensity to lead to insulin resistance or an inadequate response to insulin secretion. That means that smokers have double the risk of acquiring Type 2 diabetes as a result of lighting up.

From the standpoint of other major diseases: Smokers are much more at risk of developing such nasty diseases as heart disease and stroke. Cholesterol levels are higher for smoking Type 2 diabetics than non-smoking diabetics. Coincidentally, diabetics are also at a much higher risk of the same ailments. Combined, smoking Type 2 diabetics increase their chances of developing each of these diseases threefold.

From the standpoint of other organs: Smoking greatly increases the probability of kidney disease, especially in Type 1 diabetics. Since kidney disease is one of the most common side effects of diabetes, your likelihood of having problems just skyrocketed. Lets not forget the pancreas. Pancreatic cancer is much higher for smokers than non-smokers, while it will already be weakened and performing at less than optimal levels from Type 2 diabetes.

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