Smoking and Diabetes

We all know that smoking has global, profound, negative effects on our body. It raises your risk of fatal diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and many types of cancer. Over 100 Canadians die of a smoking-related illness every day. While smoking is bad for the average person, it’s worse if you have diabetes. You already have a condition that affects many organs and parts of your body. When you add smoking as an extra burden, it raises your risk of health complications even more.

Diabetes is a condition that is caused by insufficient insulin, a blood glucose regulation hormone, or reduced sensitivity of the body to insulin. Elevated blood sugar level causes muscle tension of blood vessels, accumulation of a glucose-hemoglobin complex (HbA1c), as well as impairment of some white blood cell (neutrophils) migration. These effects cause insufficient blood circulation and slow healing of minor injuries and infections. High blood sugar level also damages the nervous system. Therefore, diabetes patients develop complications such as heart disease, hypertension, kidney disease, diabetic retinopathy, pain and numbness of extremities, and even peripheral body parts infection and amputation.

It has been proven that nicotine in cigarettes elevates blood sugar level and worsen all complications in diabetes condition. A research result from Xiao-Chuan Liu, a professor of chemistry at the California State Polytechnic University, shows that nicotine raises the level of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) by as much as 34% in smoker’s blood comparing to non-smoker. Hba A1c is glucose-hemoglobin combination, a standard indicator of blood sugar content in the body.

Therefore, for people with diabetes, quitting smoking is critical to stabilize the health condition and prevent fatal complications. Moreover, since nicotine raises blood sugar level, using nicotine replacement treatments, such as Nicotine gums and patches, will not lower your risks in diabetes complications. In such cases, choosing a healthier, nicotine free quit smoking aid is very important. The Stop Tobacco soft laser auricular therapy of the Stop Centres is a chemical free and effective method to help you quit smoking. The treatment integrates ancient wisdom (auricular acupuncture) and modern technology low level intensity laser to restore the nerve functions and eliminate nicotine withdrawal symptoms. With over 17 years’ experience, the professionals in the Stop Centres will give you the relief you deserve.