Live Life Team
There are several risk factors for developing diabetes, including hypertension and smoking. Smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day does more than increases your blood pressure. It also raises the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes to three times that of a non-smoker. Smoking also causes hypertension, making the likelihood of developing diabetes rise even more.
Smoking also brings about complications for patients who have already been diagnosed. Smoking reduces the body’s ability to use insulin, and raises blood sugar levels, wreaking havoc on the management of diabetes. The risk of diabetes-related issues such as retinopathy, circulation issues, heart disease and such is increased by smoking. Because smoking can cause circulation problems, dental and surgical procedures are more complicated, and the risk of infection is greater in patients suffering from diabetes. If not controlled, this can lead to limbs dying and requiring amputation. Diabetes patients are also more likely to develop nerve damage and kidney disease if they smoke.
Death caused by cardiovascular disease is three times greater in people with diabetes. Combined with smoking, people with diabetes significantly increase their chances of dying from heart attack or stroke. Considering all of the negative consequences of smoking, it makes no sense to take the risk. A much better choice would be to stop smoking, and let the body begin to reverse the damage that smoking has caused. A physician will be able to help decide the best options and will be able to prescribe the necessary medications to help the patient quit smoking, while monitoring progress.
