Risk of Smoking for Type 1
You may already understand that smoking cigarettes increases the risk for Type 2 diabetes, which it can increase a person’s risk of diabetes complications such as circulation issues, nerve damage, and kidney disease. A recent study, nevertheless, looked at people with Type 1 diabetes and discovered a link in between cigarette smoking and severe hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood glucose levels).
Type 1 Diabetes and New Risk of Smoking
The study, released in the June problem of the journal Diabetes Care, examined information collected from 537 individuals with Type 1 diabetes who took part in the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy. The scientists divided these individuals into 3 groups: those who had actually never smoked (58%), those who had smoked in the past however gave up effectively at least one year prior to the study (27%), and those who currently smoked (15%).
After adjusting for factors such as age, sex, HbA1c, alcohol intake, waist-to-hip ratio, extensive insulin treatment, and history of severe hypoglycemia, the researchers discovered that people who presently smoked had nearly 3 times the risk of experiencing severe hypoglycemia than those who had never smoked. For the purposes of the study, severe hypoglycemia was specified as loss of awareness or being hospitalized over night since of hypoglycemia.
Also read: What are the Risks of Smoking for Diabetes?
The scientists thought that cigarette smoking may perhaps cause excessive insulin to build up in the blood, resulting in low blood sugar levels. In addition, cigarette smoking can increase the body’s secretion of specific hormonal agents that work versus the action of insulin, leading cigarette smokers to have to inject more insulin, thus increasing their risk of hypoglycemia.
For an online guide and support system for quitting smoking, please see www.smokefree.gov.
