Smoking and diabetes: Quitting can help prevent, manage disease
November is American Diabetes Month, an annual observance that brings attention to the disease affecting more than one in 10 Wisconsin adults (with one in three Wisconsin adults also at risk for developing type 2 diabetes). Thursday is also the Great American Smokeout, an annual event sponsored by the American Cancer Society to encourage Americans to quit tobacco smoking.
This year, re:TH!NK Lakeshore Tobacco Prevention Network and Healthiest Manitowoc County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition partner to remind the public that smoking is one of the leading risk factors for type 2 diabetes and that quitting can help lower your risk, or if you have diabetes, help you better manage the disease.
People who smoke are 30-40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who do not, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, people with diabetes who smoke are more likely than non-smokers to encounter difficulties with insulin dosing and managing their disease.
"Smoking increases inflammation in the body, which contributes to the increased risk of diabetes," said Jessica Meyer, primary care provider at Holy Family Memorial. "Smoking just three cigarettes increases a patient's blood sugar by almost 30%. Patients who have diabetes are at significantly increased risk of heart disease, poor circulation, eye disease that can lead to blindness and neuropathy. All these conditions are also worsened by the effects of smoking. Quitting smoking is the No. 1 thing patients can do to improve their health and lifespan.
"Quitting tobacco use and smoking is extremely challenging for many reasons related to biological changes in the body, psychological stress and cultural factors," Meyer added. "However, with the proper support through counseling, stress management and medications, patients can be successful. Many patients have to try multiple times to quit before they are successful long-term, but it is worth the battle to improve one's health and longevity."
Free resources are available to help tobacco users quit. People who are ready to be tobacco-free can call the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT NOW (784-8669). If they’re on Medicaid, they can also talk to their doctor about the free support provided by the Medicaid Cessation benefit.
For more about tobacco prevention and control efforts in Manitowoc County, contact Healthiest Manitowoc County at healthiestmc.org, or call 920-654-0238.
OTHER NEWS: