Cigarettes contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals that can increase insulin resistance. Smoking can complicate blood sugar control, increasing the risk of diabetes-related complications like heart disease, kidney damage, and poor circulation. These conditions can even lead to amputations. Quitting smoking can reverse some of the effects and help manage type-2 diabetes.

What you need to know:

Understanding type-2 diabetes
How smoking increases your risk of type-2 diabetes?

Understanding type-2 diabetes

In type-2 diabetes, the body fails to respond normally to insulin. Even though your pancreas continues producing insulin, it can stop performing its function because of diabetes, causing blood glucose levels to increase. Previously, type-2 diabetes predominantly affected adults over 40, but it is increasingly being diagnosed in younger adults, teenagers, and children. High blood sugar, typical of type-2 diabetes, can harm the heart, retina, and kidneys. Diabetic retinopathy and chronic kidney disease are known to have severe consequences of poorly managed diabetes.

How smoking increases your risk of type-2 diabetes?

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There are several ways in which smoking increases the risk of type-2 diabetes.

Insulin assists in transporting blood sugar into cells, but nicotine alters cells, making them less responsive to insulin and leading to elevated blood sugar levels.
The chemicals found in cigarettes damage body cells and induce inflammation, further reducing cellular responsiveness to insulin.
Smokers are more susceptible to accumulating belly fat, heightening the risk of developing type-2 diabetes, even in individuals who are not overweight.
Smokers face a 30% to 40% increased likelihood of developing type-2 diabetes compared to non-smokers.

Benefits of quitting smoking for your overall health

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Regardless of the duration or intensity of your smoking habit, quitting can significantly improve your health.

Once you stop smoking, your body begins to repair itself immediately. Within 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure decrease.
After 12 hours, the levels of carbon monoxide, a harmful gas from cigarette smoke, return to normal in your bloodstream.
Between 2 weeks and three months, your circulation and lung function improve.
By the end of a year, your risk of heart disease is half compared to that of a smoker.

Additionally, quitting smoking enhances your body’s ability to utilize insulin, which can help stabilize your blood sugar levels.

Improved blood sugar control after quitting

If you have diabetes and decide to quit smoking, you might need to monitor your blood sugar levels more frequently because they could decrease suddenly. It’s essential to persist with your efforts to quit smoking. Over time, as you continue to avoid cigarettes, your insulin resistance will improve. Additionally, if you don’t have type-2 diabetes, be aware that your risk of developing it may temporarily increase when you initially quit smoking.

Nicotine replacement therapies, including gum, patches, and lozenges, are highly effective aids for quitting smoking and can double your chances of success. However, since these products contain nicotine, which can elevate your blood sugar, it’s essential to consult with your doctor before using them if you have diabetes.

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