Smoking
Smoking
| Author: Judy Kohn, RN, BSN, CDE |
| Last Updated: Monday, February 13, 2006 |
Q: "I know smoking can cause lung cancer, but what effect does smoking have on blood glucose? And would switching to chewing tobacco be a better alternative to avoid lung cancer?"
A: Although chewing tobacco is not associated with lung cancer, it is associated with an increased incidence of oral cancers. Also, one reference stated that the amount of sugar in chewing tobacco can range from 4-8% of its total weight, meaning that chewing tobacco could raise your blood glucose.
Smoking has such extensive and significant effects on people with diabetes that the American Diabetes Association sends a strong message urging smoking cessation, as well as prevention-i.e. don't even think of starting!
Negative Effects of Smoking with Diabetes:
- While smoking can decrease appetite and help with weight loss, it can raise blood glucose-nicotine has a complex effect on insulin absorption and insulin resistance.
- It increases your chance of blood clots-leading to a heart attack or stroke.
- It increases your blood fats, adding to an increased risk of heart disease. People with diabetes who smoke are 3 times more likely to die of heart disease than are non-smoking people with diabetes.
- It narrows your blood vessels-thus also significantly contributing to high blood pressure, heart disease, and poor circulation in your legs. 95% of all amputations performed on people with diabetes are on smokers.
- It increases your risk for neuropathy (nerve damage) and nephropathy (kidney damage).
- It can cause impotence.
- It increases your risk of limited joint mobility-this is a complication in which the skin of the hands thickens and the finger joints ache.
- Recent studies suggest a link between maternal smoking and childhood diabetes, meaning that the risk of diabetes increased over 4.5 times in children of women who smoked more than 10 cigarettes a day compared to women who were nonsmokers. The risk was still significant even in women who smoked fewer than 10 cigarettes a day.
- Children of mothers who smoke are more likely to become obese.
- There is some evidence that smoking may also be associated with the development of type 2 diabetes.
Why Smoke?
After all these negative effects, one would wonder why anyone would smoke. But unfortunately there are physical and psychological factors tied to smoking: many people find it relaxing, and/or stimulating; more importantly, it is highly addictive, and quitting smoking can cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
Quit NOW!
There are so many resources available to help you quit smoking, that I urge you not only to read the details below, but also to discuss this with your diabetes team.
Related Links
Office of the Surgeon General
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov
American Diabetes Association (ADA)
http://www.diabetes.org
American Heart Association (AHA)
http://www.americanheart.org
American Cancer Society (ACS)
http://www.cancer.org/
Important Notice: The responses provided by the team of Diabetes Educators are based on their personal experiences and expertise as practicing diabetes healthcare professionals, and are not to be considered diabetes management advice from Abbott Laboratories. Remember that information provided by the team of Diabetes Educators is for general background purposes and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by a trained professional. You should always consult your physician about any healthcare questions you may have, especially before trying a new medication, diet, fitness program, or approach to healthcare issues.
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