Smoking… preferably not!

Smoking is bad for everyone, but if you have diabetes it is even worse. It can be hard to refuse to smoke when some of your friends are doing it. Perhaps you also do not feel like thinking about the consequences in the future. But it is vital you understand what smoking means for you as a diabetic.

Why are you running more risks by smoking while having diabetes?

When you have diabetes due to higher blood sugar levels, your blood vessels can narrow. By smoking a cigarette, you accelerate this process. The chemical ingredients of tobacco can constrict your blood vessels. In the long run, it causes a higher risk of high blood pressure, atherosclerosis and finally, a heart attack. On top of this, you might get lung cancer, which is a known risk for all cigarette smokers, even your friends.
Henk Veeze, a paediatrician , says ‘Everyone naturally knows smoking is bad, but the impact of smoking combined with diabetes on blood vessels is like 1+1 = 5. Diabetics who smoke also run the risk of impotency at the age of 25. This is what we tell young patients who have started to smoke or are considering it. We want to show them the consequences, but also we want to let them make their own choices.’

Hence, remember: smoking + diabetes = danger!