Tobacco and diabetes: what are the effects?
Smoking and diabetes (whether type 1 or type 2) have similar health effects [1,2,3,4,5]. For a smoker, the consequences and potential complications linked to diabetes are increased [2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. The risks are cumulative [2,3,5,6].
This is why the highest European and world public health authorities strongly recommend and encourage people with diabetes to stop smoking and return to a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle as quickly as possible [1,2,3,6,7,8].
Nicotine acts directly on the markers of diabetes
It is estimated that cigarettes contain around 400 harmful chemicals, with nicotine being one of the worst offenders [1]. This is because nicotine alters the transportation of sugar to body cells, causing an increase not only in glucose toxicity but also insulin resistance [1,2,3,4,6].
Whatever the method used to inhale nicotine (with standard or electronic cigarettes), more abnormal variations can be observed in blood glucose levels in smokers with diabetes compared to non-smokers with diabetes[1,2,3,8].
Smoking exacerbates diabetes-related complications
Many of the particles present in tobacco affect the metabolic system [1,3,8]. By disrupting the mechanisms regulating the absorption of sugar and fats by cells and by altering the lining of blood vessels, smoking contributes to cardiovascular complications [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9].
Rest assured: all these imbalances will decrease and even completely disappear once you become a non-smoker with diabetes. Several studies have shown that by quitting tobacco the disorders previously observed in lipid profile and glycemia tests can indeed be corrected [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8].
If necessary, do not hesitate to talk to health professionals about solutions to help you to stop smoking.
Sources
- Kar D, Gillies C, Zaccardi F, Webb D, Seidu S, Tesfaye S, Davies M, Khunti K. Relationship of cardiometabolic parameters in non-smokers, current smokers, and quitters in diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2016 Nov 24;15(1):15.
- Campagna D, Alamo A, Di Pino A, Russo C, Calogero AE, Purrello F, Polosa R. Smoking and diabetes: dangerous liaisons and confusing relationships. Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2019 Oct 24;11:85.
- Calcaterra V, Winickoff JP, Klersy C, Schiano LM, Bazzano R, Montalbano C, Musella V, Regalbuto C, Larizza D, Cena H. Smoke exposure and cardio-metabolic profile in youth with type 1 diabetes. Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2018 Jul 6;10:53.
- Feodoroff M, et al. Smoking and progression of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 1 diabetes. Acta Diabetol. 2016.
- Feodoroff M, et al. Dose-dependent effect of smoking on risk of coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Diabetologia. 2018.
- Kar D, Gillies C, Nath M, Khunti K, Davies MJ, Seidu S. Association of smoking and cardiometabolic parameters with albuminuria in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Diabetol. 2019 Aug;56(8):839-850.
- Pan A, Wang Y, Talaei M, Hu FB. Relation of Smoking With Total Mortality and Cardiovascular Events Among Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. Circulation. 2015 Nov 10;132(19):1795-804.
- Braffett BH, Rice MM, Young HA, Lachin JM. Mediation of the association of smoking and microvascular complications by glycemic control in type 1 diabetes. PLoS One. 2019 Jan 7;14(1):e0210367.
- Lambrinou E, Hansen TB, Beulens JW. Lifestyle factors, self-management and patient empowerment in diabetes care. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2019 Dec;26(2_suppl):55-63.
