How smoking can increase the risk of diabetes?

ByLife Pharmacy

Smoking is one of the most common addictions throughout the globe. It has the potential to cause serious and detrimental health effects. It is not surprising to know that a stressful lifestyle can be a reason for individuals to get hooked on smoking. A whopping 16 million people are suffering from smoking-related health conditions. And it is said to be a leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States of America. But many are not aware that along with a wide range of complications like cancer smoking can also trigger type 2 diabetes.

So to help you understand the link between smoking and diabetes and how to minimize the harmful effect, Online pharmacy UK has compiled a few vital points to help you overcome your addiction.

Let us first understand what is type 2 diabetes? 

In simple terms, it is a lifelong disease where the body is unable to utilize insulin the way it typically should. This is why type 2 diabetes is also called insulin resistance. It is common among any age group. It specifically attacks children with childhood obesity. 

Healthy individuals who smoke are 30-40% more prone to developing type 2 diabetes as compared to a non-smoker. There are many ways in which smoking may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes developing in a person.

The chemical used in the cigarettes actively interferes with the normal functioning of the body and causes inflammation which can cause ineffective insulin activity. It also causes cell damage, termed oxidative stress which further increases the risk of diabetes. Smoking further hampers with effectively managing insulin levels, this directly causes diabetic smokers to need more insulin in order to maintain blood glucose levels. 

Without proper control of diabetes, it can lead to other health problems including 

  • Heart disease

  • Poor blood circulation that causes blood clots or amputations.

  • Damage to the nerve that leads to mobility impairment

  • Develop eye disease causing blindness

Minimize the risk of diabetes  

If you are a diabetic there is no way to smoke safely, the only solution is to stop smoking or cut down in a huge way that makes a difference.

Below strategies may help to minimize the risk of diabetes in smokers:

  • Exercise regularly as it will lower the risk of life-threatening ailments like lung cancer in people who smoke. It will also maintain the glucose level in your body. And reduces the chances of obesity, which is another factor that causes diabetes.

  • Eating healthy and diet rich fruits and vegetables. And reducing sugar and salt intake will lower the risk of heart disease. Fiber intake generally helps diabetics as it helps lower blood sugar.

  • People with high diabetes are likely to develop several health complications and smoking will add to the risk factor. Online pharmacy UK recommends taking proper medications prescribed by your health care to reduce risk.

  • And finally cut back on the number of cigarettes that you smoke in a day and gradually try to quit. For this, you can try electronic cigarettes as it provides the best alternative to smoking but without the bad stuff.  You can also go the traditional way by using gums, lozenges or inhalators to help you quit. 

Conclusion:

For diabetics avoiding smoking and for a smoker to quit or stop smoking is essential as smoking can compound the risk that type 2 diabetes already poses on your health. If you are a diabetic, it is vital to carry out diabetes testing at regular intervals. The UK online pharmacy website offers a range of testing kits and machines that can help you be at the top of your blood glucose levels as it is a matter of life and death. 

Hence, to live a long and healthy life quit smoking. And the best way to go about doing that is to ask for your doctor’s help and use product from UK online pharmacy that will help reduce the cravings. And eventually, with time your addiction to smoking will disappear. Always remember “it’s easier than you think”.