While smoking alone is hazardous to your health and increases your risk for different types of diseases, using tobacco after you have been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes presents additional risks. Depending on what type of diabetes you have, smoking presents different hazards.

Type 1 diabetes affects those who were predisposed to the disease due to their genetic make-up. While smoking does not increase the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes, it can exacerbate the problems associated with diabetes and may even speed the process. Those who have poor control on their blood sugar level increase their risk of heart disease as well as other cardiovascular diseases when they choose to smoke. Smoking also increases the chances of developing kidney disease or kidney failure.


For those who are considered pre-diabetic, smoking dramatically increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. This is because nicotine has been clinically shown to decrease the body’s insulin sensitivity. Studies have shown that patients who have Type 2 diabetes actually require larger doses of insulin to gain metabolic control than those who do not smoke.

There are several factors that can contribute to a diagnosis of diabetes. Some risk factors you have the ability to change, like smoking or being overweight, and some risk factors you cannot change, like family history or age. Knowing your risks and changing the things that are possible will go far in reducing your chances of developing diabetes.

Filed under: Living with Diabetes

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!